Broccoli Leek Soup

Recipe from: A Saucy Kitchen

Total Time: 30 mins

Ingredients 

  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
  • 2 medium (350 g) leeks
  • 4 large cloves (1 tbsp) minced garlic
  • 1 large (450 g) potato
  • 1 large head of broccoli 
  • 1 L vegetable stock
  • 1 tsp sea salt (to taste)
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice – optional

Instructions:

  1. In a large cooking pot, melt the olive oil on a medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the leeks and garlic. Sauté for a couple of minutes to soften, stirring often to keep the garlic from burning.
  2. Add the potato, broccoli and stock. Stir and mix in the salt. Cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes and broccoli are fork tender.
  3. Remove the pot from the heat. Use an immersion blender to process until you reach your desired consistency. Tip: You can also transfer the soup to a traditional blender if needed. Just make sure to only blend the soup and in batches making sure not to overfill the blender open the lid of the blender carefully and away from your face as it will likely be steamy.
  4. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed and serve

Optional Additions:

  1. Top with a sprinkling of almond slices for added texture, red pepper flakes, black pepper, chopped chives and/or a drizzle of olive oil over the top.
  2. You can also mix in a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten up the flavour if you like.
  3. For an added cheesy flavour add a couple tablespoons nutritional yeast

 

 

 

Creamy Roasted Carrot Soup 

Recipe from Cookie and Kate

Total Time:  1 hr 5 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds carrots
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt, divided, to taste
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 cups vegetable broth (or water)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, to taste
  • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup, if desired.
  2. To prepare your carrots, peel them and then cut them on the diagonal so each piece is about ½″ thick at the widest part (see photos).
  3. Place the carrots on the baking sheet. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and ½ teaspoon of the salt. Toss until the carrots are lightly coated in oil and seasonings. Arrange them in a single layer.
  4. Roast the carrots until they’re caramelized on the edges and easily pierced through by a fork, 25 to 40 minutes, tossing halfway. (Heirloom carrot varieties will roast in as little as 25 minutes, but regular carrots are more dense and typically require 35 to 40 minutes.)
  5. Once the carrots are almost done roasting, in a Dutch oven or soup pot, warm the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and turning translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
  6. Add the garlic, coriander and cumin (if following a variation, see recipe notes for additions). Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour in the vegetable broth and water, while scraping up any browned bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon or sturdy silicone spatula.
  7. Add the roasted carrots to the pot when they are out of the oven. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, to give the flavours time to meld.
  8. Once the soup is done cooking, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, carefully transfer the hot soup to a blender, working in batches if necessary. (Do not fill past the maximum fill line or the soup could overflow!)
  9. Add the butter, lemon juice (or lime, if following the Thai variation), and several twists of black pepper. Blend until completely smooth. Add additional salt and pepper if necessary, to taste. Add another tablespoon of butter if you’d like more richness, or a little more lemon juice if it needs more zing. Blend again, and serve.
  10. This soup keeps well in the refrigerator, covered, for about four days, or for several months in the freezer.

Brio Integrative Health Centre

See author's posts