Description
This Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for chilly days. It combines the natural sweetness of carrots, sweet potatoes, and apple with warming curry spices, enriched with a smooth, creamy texture from pureeing. The soup is hearty yet light, making it an ideal starter or main course during fall and winter seasons.
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon curry powder, plus more for serving
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and chopped into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
- 1½ pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 small), peeled and chopped into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
- 8 cups chicken broth (best quality such as Swanson)
- 1¾ teaspoons salt
Flavor Enhancers
- 1 tart yet sweet apple (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji), peeled and chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Onions and Curry Powder: In a large pot, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook, stirring frequently, until they become soft and translucent, which should take about 10 minutes. Make sure not to let them brown. Add the curry powder and cook for an additional minute to release its aroma.
- Add Vegetables and Broth: To the pot, add the peeled and chopped carrots, sweet potatoes, the high-quality chicken broth, and salt. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer Vegetables: Once boiling, cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Allow the soup to simmer gently until the vegetables are very tender, approximately 25 minutes.
- Add Apple and Honey: Stir in the peeled and chopped apple along with the honey. This will add a subtle tart sweetness that balances the curry spice.
- Puree the Soup: Using a stick blender, puree the soup directly in the pot until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, let the soup cool slightly and puree it in batches in a regular blender. Be sure to leave the hole in the blender lid open and cover it with a kitchen towel to let steam escape safely.
- Season and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, freshly ground black pepper, and honey if needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with a bit more curry powder if desired. Note that the soup will thicken as it rests, so you may want to add a little water to adjust the consistency before serving.
Notes
- Do not brown the onions; cook them until just soft and translucent for the best flavor and texture.
- Use a high-quality chicken broth to enhance the soup’s depth of flavor.
- If the soup thickens too much as it cools, thin it out with a little water or additional broth before reheating and serving.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
- Be careful when blending hot soup to avoid steam burns; vent the blender lid and cover with a towel.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
