Spicy Roots Soup Recipes

SPICED ROOT SOUP WITH CRISP SPICED ONIONS

Steps:

• Peel and halve the onions through the root, then slice thinly lengthways. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large pan, add half the onions and fry until just starting to colour. Add the mustard and cumin seeds and fry until nicely browned.
• Add vegetables and curry paste and stir until well coated. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, partly cover and simmer for 30 mins, until the vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, heat the remaining tbsp of oil in a small pan, add the onions and fry quickly until crisp and browned. Tip onto kitchen paper.
• Purée the soup in batches, then return to the pan and stir in most of the yogurt. Taste and add salt, if necessary. Reheat gently, then ladle into bowls and top each with a spoonful of yogurt, some fried onions and a scattering of roughly chopped coriander or parsley.

ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Stir in onion and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic, rosemary and bay leaves; cook 1 minute more. Add root vegetables, 8 cups water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Remove and discard rosemary branches and bay leaves. Using an immersion blender, purée soup until smooth. (Alternatively, you can purée the soup in batches in a blender or food processor.) If the soup is too thick, add a little water. Season with lemon juice and more salt to taste.
• To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil, a few drops of lemon juice, flaky salt and crushed chile or grated cheese, if desired.

SPICED ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the onions and fry for 5 mins until softened. Tip in the remaining veg and cook for another 5 mins, adding the chilli and cumin for final 2 mins.
• Add the lentils and stock to the pan. Bring to the boil, then lower heat and simmer for 25 mins until veg are tender and lentils are soft. Blitz until smooth with the milk and a little extra water or stock, if necessary. Season, then reheat until piping hot.
• Ladle into bowls and serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of chopped coriander.

SPICY ROOTS AND SHOOTS SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in pan.
• Saute onion and celery for 3 minutes.
• Add garlic and rest of chopped vegetables to onion and celery. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add stock and lower heat. Cook until vegetables are done.
• Add beans to soup.
• Remove about two cups of vegetables and one cup or stock from pot to puree. Puree until smooth. Add this back into the pot. Puree more if it is not creamy to your taste.
• Add spinach and sliced sausage. Cook until spinach is wilted. Sometimes if I have a fresh ear or two of corn, I will cut the kernels off and add it in at this point Salt to tast. Serve.
• For a vegan alternative use vegetable stock, leave out the sausage and add the kick with a dash or two of cayenne pepper.
• A nice crusty sourdough or rustic bread goes nicely with this soup!