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Bon Appétit

Spiced Coconut Carrot Soup

4.6

(35)

Image may contain Food Dish Meal Bowl Curry Stew Soup Bowl and Soup
Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Chris Morocco

Puréed soups are easy because they don’t require lots of knife work... but they can also be boring. Amping up the seasoning and topping with crunchy shaved vegetables and bright herbs makes it clear that this one's not baby food.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1

tablespoon coriander seeds

2

tablespoons virgin coconut or extra-virgin olive oil

1½

pounds carrots, peeled, chopped (about 4 cups), plus 1 carrot, thinly sliced

Kosher salt

2

red chiles, such as Fresno or cayenne, seeded, chopped

1

large shallot, chopped

1

1-inch piece ginger, peeled, finely grated

4

garlic cloves, chopped

2

teaspoons curry powder

1

15-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk

1

teaspoon fish sauce (optional)

2

tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Crushed red pepper flakes, toasted sesame seeds, sliced scallions, and/or cilantro leaves (for serving)

Special Equipment

A spice mill or mortar and pestle

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Finely grind coriander seeds in spice mill or with mortar and pestle; set aside.

    Step 2

    Heat oil in a small pot over medium-high. Add chopped carrots, season with salt, and cook, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned around the edges, 5–6 minutes. Add chiles, shallot, ginger, garlic, curry powder, and reserved ground coriander and cook, stirring often, until shallot and garlic are softened, 4–6 minutes. Add coconut milk and 1½ cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender, 20–25 minutes. Add fish sauce, if using. Purée with an immersion blender or, carefully, in small batches in a blender until smooth (make sure the small cap set within the blender jar lid is removed so that steam can escape). Season with salt, if needed.

    Step 3

    Toss sliced carrot with lemon juice in a small bowl; season with salt. Add a pinch of red pepper, a few pinches of sesame seeds, and a handful of scallions and/or cilantro leaves and toss to combine.

    Step 4

    Divide soup among bowls. Top with carrot-herb salad just before serving.

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Reviews (35)

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  • Fabulous! Mine needed a bit more liquid so it was not too thick. And whoever suggested adding the crab/lobster ravioli was a genius! Pre-made purchased ravioli from Whole Foods added just enough heft to make this a great weekday pescatarian meal.

    • Anonymous

    • Dallas

    • 11/3/2023

  • This is a wonderfully fresh meal that was perfect for an early spring soup. the portion was exactly right for dinner for two, and I served it with warm pita. I didn’t have curry powder, so I used garam masala. The carrot herb salad was PERFECT.

    • Anonymous

    • Kansas City, MO

    • 4/3/2022

  • So good!

    • Heywood

    • Noe Valley, CA

    • 3/1/2022

  • Having harvested a bumper crop of Carrots from my garden, I was looking for new ideas to use my white, yellow & orange Carrots. Fortunatly, I tried this recipe! This soup is delicious!!!! I highly recommend this recipe, especially with the crunch of the relish of carrot slices, cilantro & lemon juice garnish. Next time I will make more relish! Fortunately

    • Beverly Vander Wall

    • Lone Pine, CA

    • 12/17/2021

  • Absolutely amazing!! Used freshly made veggie stock in place of the water. Topped with lobster ravioli and the carrot-herb salad. My 19 yr old son said it was the second best thing I’ve ever made in his life.

    • Anonymous

    • Utah

    • 3/16/2021

  • Great recipe but it was a little too thick for my liking so I had to add some 300ml of extra water.

    • Anonymous

    • Greece

    • 2/14/2021

  • We didn't have enough carrots and had a bit of a "fridge purge" so added a sweet potato, half a butternut squash, & a potato. We used chicken stock instead of water and a few pats of butter before blending in the pot - this was such a warm, spiced soup! The fresh carrot & scallion topping is SO ESSENTIAL to adding bright texture.

    • KC

    • Washington, DC

    • 1/7/2021