Simple Carrot Soup
This soup is so easy to prepare your family pet can even do it. Well….almost.
It’s been a long time since I tried carrot soup. No hideous event occurred to make me go off it but if I had to choose between carrot and pumpkin, pumpkin wins hands down. While I love carrot juice, the idea of a boiled version just didn’t seem appealing. Somewhere in my convoluted mind things got all twisted because I forgot how soothing and sweet this simple soup can be.
What makes this soup interesting is the use of rice. Suddenly the soup thickens up a bit and takes on a creamy quality that potatoes can hardly beat.
Simple Carrot Soup
Serves 4
Preparation: 5 mins – Cooking: 30 mins
Preparation: 5 mins – Cooking: 30 mins
Ingredients
- 30ml (2 tbsp) butter
- 8 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 litre (4 cups) boiling water or chicken/vegetable stock
- 45ml (3 tbsp) rice, washed
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- 5ml (1 tsp) butter
- mint or chervil, shredded for garnish
Method
- Melt butter and toss carrots and onions until coated. Cover and cook gently for 10 minutes, adding a little water if necessary. Add boiling water or stock, and rice. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Whizz with a hand blender or in a food processor. Return the purée to pan and reheat tasting for salt and pepper and season accordingly.
- Add butter, divide among serving bowls and top with herbs.
Serving Suggestion
- Especially in the winter this makes a good starter.
Serving Suggestion
- If you find the soup a tad bit too thick, add stock or water to thin.
- Add a chopped potato or two to the soup instead of rice if you prefer.
Mint with carrots. You just stumped us! What a nice spike to the flavor.
by The Duo Dishes
on 30. Jan, 2009
The Duo Dishes: I thought mint and carrots were a pretty standard combination, but maybe it’s more of a European thing. Glad you made a discovery.
by Michelle
on 31. Jan, 2009
One thing I like to add to my carrot soup is turnips! I love the added flavor it gives the soup. Your photo sure looks good!
by Chuck
on 02. Feb, 2009
Nice looking carrot soup. I like how vegetable soups can be so simple and yet so good!
by Kevin
on 04. Feb, 2009
I like the addition of the rice – sometimes carrot soup can be just too watery, and potatoes can make it too stodgy…
by Jeanne
on 05. Feb, 2009
my rabbit couldnt do it, so we had rabbit stew instead!
by barnaby
on 10. Feb, 2009
Chuck: Turnips on their own do nothing for me but you’re right; I really must try them in carrot soup.
Kevin: I think it all comes down to flavour. The less ingredients, the more the taste of the main ingredients will shine through.
Jeanne: Rice was an interesting discovery for me too – try it!
Barnaby: LOL. At least you put the rabbit to good use.
by Michelle
on 12. Feb, 2009
This is a great recipe, again, from this website. My absoloute fave is the butternut squash, but the carrot is great and I popped in some garlic before cooking and snipped in spring onions for the garnish.
by Faith Attwell
on 16. Aug, 2009
My first attempt at soup!
Tastes very nice.
Added in two cloves of garlic, two stalks of celery, half a dozen cherry tomatoes and a dashing of tomato puree.
Soon to be blitzed!
by Sophie, age 13
on 27. Aug, 2009
fantastic! bought a sack so had to use the carros somehow. I added oats instaed of rice – a lovely creamy effect.
by julia
on 02. Nov, 2009
Hi, to impart a little more flavour, try roasting the carrots in the oven for 20-30 mins, drizzled with honey and caratino oil (Red palm and canola) http://www.carotino.eu/uk/ available in ASDA
by Andy
on 16. Dec, 2009
I have lots of carrots in my fridge so will be making your soup this afternoon. Will let you know how I get on.
Angie kempson
by Angela Kempson
on 06. Mar, 2010
Made this soup this afternoon and it tastes very nice. Added some semi skimmed milk and parsley in the end and simmered for 5 minutes.
by Gai
on 15. May, 2010
Try adding a cup of fresh orange juice to the soup.
Delicious.
by Steve Fletcher
on 03. Jul, 2010
tried this soup a few weeks ago and it was great! going to make more today!!
by Nina
on 28. Aug, 2010