Pleasantly spiced and gently sweet, this Moroccan-Spiced Carrot Soup recipe is not just warm and filling, it's also easy to prepare.
Ingredients
1 large onion, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons grated ginger
1½ teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon coriander
¾ teaspoon dried thyme or oregano
½ teaspoon ground fennel
½ teaspoon turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
pinch of cinnamon
4 cups shredded carrots (about 6-8 carrots)
8 cups water
1 bay leaf
4 teaspoons vegetable broth powder, or replace 4 cups of the water with your favorite prepared vegetable broth
1 Tablespoon chopped preserved lemon or 1 teaspoon lemon zest
¾ teaspoon sea salt
2 small tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and diced
½ of a jalapeño, serrano, or other chile pepper, seeded and left whole
¼ cup whole wheat couscous
2 teaspoons lemon juice
¼ cup chopped cilantro or parsley
Instructions
In a pot over medium-high heat, sauté the onion in 1 Tablespoon olive oil for 5 minutes. Add another 1 Tablespoon of olive oil to the pot and sauté the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds. Next, add the paprika, coriander, thyme/oregano, fennel, turmeric, black pepper, and cinnamon and sauté the spices for 10 seconds.
Finally, pour in the water, then add the carrots, bay leaf, vegetable broth powder, lemon zest, salt, chopped tomatoes, and jalapeño. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer the soup for 10-15 minutes.
After it has simmered, discard the bay leaf and put 4 cups (or about half) of the soup into a blender jar and carefully blend until smooth. Return this smooth portion back to the pot.
Stir in the couscous and lemon juice and let the soup sit for five minutes off the heat. After 5 minutes, stir in the cilantro or parsley, taste for seasoning, and serve.
Notes
-You can substitute fine bulgur wheat for the couscous. Or for a gluten-free version, use some precooked quinoa or millet.
-If you prefer a more chunky, brothy soup, skip the blending step. Conversely, if you like a silky smooth soup, blend the whole thing.
Recipe by Lands & Flavors at https://www.landsandflavors.com/moroccan-spiced-carrot-soup/