Spiced Carrot Soup with Pistachios and Rosemary
Great for a windy and rainy day, this comforting soup warms the body. Seasoned with harissa, a blend of pepper, caraway, coriander and cumin, enhance the flavor of the soup, while the pistachios and rosemary add a little texture and color.
- 2 Tbs olive oil, divided
- 2 lbs carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
- 4 Tbs unsalted butter
- 2-3 tsp harissa paste*
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 2 Tbs rosemary, chopped
- ½ cup raw pistachios
Lightly sauté carrots in 1 Tbs of olive oil. Add water and stock and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add butter and harissa and blend well using an immersion blender or transfer to a blender. Add salt to taste. Return to low heat until ready to serve. In a separate pan, heat remaining olive oil on medium heat. Sauté rosemary until it sizzles, then add pistachios and cook until they just start to lightly brown. Remove from heat. Top soup with pistachios and rosemary.
*Harissa Paste
You can buy harissa paste already made or make it yourself with red peppers or dried chiles. I use a dry (mild heat) blend that’s made with guajillo peppers, caraway, coriander, sweet and smoked paprika, cumin, cinnamon and salt. If using a dry blend, whisk together 3 Tbs of the spice with 3 Tbs of olive oil, 1-2 minced garlic cloves and the juice of one lemon. Let sit for an hour before using and store in an airtight container. It keeps in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Serves 6-8.
Nourish