Simple Supper: Carrot + Apple Soup
4February 20, 2013 by Meg G.
For many years when Heather and I lived in Providence, we hosted a series of Friday night community meals during the season of Lent. It started because we love to host, we’re vegetarians, and we know a lot of folks who abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent. It grew into an excuse to gather together regularly during the winter and early spring. After all, nothing makes us happier than having a house full of people and cooking a big ol’ pot of soup!
This past Friday was our inaugural Simple Supper here in Worcester and it was a small, but successful start. The beauty of Simple Supper is that it often brings together a completely random group of people, many of whom don’t know one another. This is why we started hosting supper clubs a few years ago – we love creating a space where acquaintances can become friends and where conversations are meaningful and include healthy doses of laughter. This week, we were joined by three friends – two of whom I’d never met. (Good thing none of us are serial killers…)
Friday’s menu included a carrot, apple, pear, and sweet potato soup, topped with cilantro oil. We served it with a fresh green salad and some crusty bread. Here goes!
Orange Soup with Cilantro Oil (Can I call it that? ‘Cause, I just did.) – based on this recipe from Edible Biology
- 1.5 cups sweet potato, cubed
- 1.5 cups carrot, chopped
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2.5 cups vegetable stock (homemade or well-seasoned, but salt-free)
- 1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped
- 1 pear peeled cored and chopped
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- Up to 1 tsp sea salt
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp cilantro leaves
- Sea salt
Method:
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Stir in onion, carrot, ginger, garlic and sweet potato. Cook vegetables until onion is soft, about 7 minutes.
- De-glaze bottom with pot with white wine, stirring vegetables a few times. Add vegetable stock to pot and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in chopped apple and pear. Cover pot, turn down heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make cilantro oil by combining olive oil, cilantro and some sea salt in a food processor until cilantro is processed into little flecks and the oil is green. You can filter the oil or use it as-is. (We left it.)
- When soup is done simmering, take off of heat and allow to sit and cool about 10 minutes.
- Process soup in a food processor or with immersion blender until smooth.
- Add soup back to pot, re-warm and stir in sea salt about 1/4 tsp at a time. Stir, taste and add more salt if desired. Finish by stirring lemon juice into soup.
- Serve soup drizzled with cilantro oil.
Setting the table is probably my favorite part of preparing for guests. A set table creates an intentional, thoughtful space that (I hope) indicates to our guests that they are part of a warm and welcoming community. Plus, it’s an excuse to actually use your table linens and pull out your pretty serving ware.
I think this soup was a hit! If you’re slightly scared of adding fruit to your soup, don’t be. The apple and pear offer a subtle sweetness, with just a hint of appley pear-ness. I liked the addition of the cilantro oil, but I served it on the side, as not everyone shares my enthusiasm for the herb. It was a simple meal, but it was also delicious and warm and wintery. And it was made all the better by the awesome company.
Stay tuned for another Simple Supper recipe next week! Enjoy!
Small World Supper Club 
Yummo! This is a must try. And I love the additions you mention above. Most of all, I love the simple soup gathering idea. It’s something Jim and I plan to do more of… bringing random friends together… and this sounds like a perfectly relaxed way to do that. A heartfelt “Thank you!”
Thanks so much! : ) We so love warming our home with good people, food, and conversation. I hope you and Jim are inspired to pick up the Simple Supper torch!
This seems to be a great twist on the traditionnal carrot soup!
Thanks, Marie-Pier! It is a lovely twist and is completely adaptable. I forgot to mention that I actually wound up adding two extra carrots and an extra apple, because I wanted to increase the portions. You can also add fresh herbs like sage or thyme or even add some curry powder. Enjoy! : )