Carrot Soup

This is my variation on the Young Carrot Soup recipie from The Thorough Good Cook. Included here are more precise measurments and easy-to follow instructions, also I've included variations for both Vegetarian and Vegan versions. This version has also been modified to use ingredients found in modern supermarkets. It's a really good soup when served hot on a cool fall or winter day, and the color really makes one think of autumn. Share and Enjoy!.

Ingredients:

5-6 Carrots
1 Turnip
1 Large yellow or white onion
4-5 celery stalks
2-3 green onions
1 quart of vegetable broth
1 quart chicken broth
Butter or vegetable oil
Salt
Pepper
Sugar
Cream

Instructions
Thinly slice your onion and dice your celery coarsely. In the bottom of a large pot melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter (or place a few tablespoons of vegetable oil for you vegan types), Begin fry your onions until they begin to caramelize. Once the onions are slighly caramelized add your celery, green onions (cut into 1" lengths"), turnip (cubed about 1") and carrots (peeled and cut into 2" lengths). Saute for 3-5 minutes. Add 1 quart of chicken and one quart of vegetable broth (you can replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth for vegetarian offerings). And bring to a boil. Once a boil has been reached simmer under medium low heat for 20 minutes.

Remove the pot from the stove and strain the broth. Place the vegetables in a bown and return the broth to the pot. From the bowl of (now very boiled) vegetables remove the carrots and little or all of the turnip and place into a blender or food processor (if a bit of onion clings to a peice of carrot don't worry about it, but it's important to ensure no celery is transfered as this will harm the texture of the soup). Cover with broth and blend until smooth. Put the puree into the pot with the broth and bring the heat back up. Cook for 5-10 minutes under medium heat. Stop. Now test the flavor. If your carrots were not very sweet now is the time to add a few tablespoons of sugar. Add some fresh ground white pepper (white is better, but black can be used as well, white pepper will not add black "specks" in your soup), a pinch or two of salt. Taste after adding each seasoning.

Immediatley prior to serving heat the soup and add an ounce of cream into the bowl. This turns the soup from "good" to "oh my god, this is sex on a spoon". Vegans can omit the cream and still enjoy a good soup.

Hints & Tips
I can't emphasize that you taste this soup often during the final phase. When I first made this soup it went from "eh..." to "great" during this final stage (finally reaching "divine" after adding the cream.

Adding a pinch or of salt after adding a bit of sugar can enhance the sweetness of the soup, this will also help keep the sugar content down.

Use a low sodium broth (I prefer the organic broths that come in cartons), salt does not evaporate and is difficult to remove once a soup becomes too salty, this soup does reduce a bit and that will concentrate any salt already in the soup. This is also why we do not season until the final step.

This soup is great for entertaining. It's light enough on the stomach to serve as a first course. make up a batch the day before, refigerate, then heat and add the cream immediatley before serving.

This soup first came into being when my mother took two of her favourite carrot soup recipes and combined them into one, I guess you could call franken-soup recipe. After I moved out on my own, she gave the recipe to me where I tampered with it further. I was going through a phase of veganizing all my food, so the milk and cream originally called for were replaced with a coconut milk/soy milk mixture.

The result? A thick, creamy carrot soup with a hint of curried parsnip flavour. I like to save it for cold winter days when the wind is blowing snowflakes in my face and my socks are wet with melted slush that fell inside my boots. Coming inside, I warm my hands with some hot chocolate and a reheated bowl of carrot soup. It would probably be nicer fresh off the stove, but I'm the main cook in this apartment so yeah. It's good reheated too.

Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 4 cups carrots, sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-2 potatoes
• 1-2 parsnips
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 vegetable boullion cube
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup soymilk, rice milk, almond milk or dairy milk

NOTE: for a lower fat version, reduce the coconut milk and increase the milk. Just make sure it adds up to 1 1/2 cups.

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add all remaining ingredients except the milks. Reduce heat and simmer 40-45 minutes, or until the onion and carrots are tender.

Remove from heat and blend mixture in food processor; return to saucepan. Reduce to low heat and stir in milks, heating until warm. Serve warm.

This is especially good served for lunch, or as part of a light dinner with bread and salad. But I won't tell you how to eat your carrot soup.

 

Enjoy!