Roasted Carrot & Golden Beet Soup

I’ve been searching for moments of calm and quiet.

It seems like this should be a relatively easy task these days, what with all the staying home at all. But I find more and more that calm and quiet can be just as difficult to find, if not more so, during days of distance learning/working from home. And yet there are the moments that bring me peace, no matter what is happening outside my door, like cooking soup to eat with crusty bread on a cold day.

This soup is beautifully silky, flavorful, easy to make and even something non-beet lovers enjoy. I had several recipe testers who were kind enough to try the recipe out before I posted it (y’all are the BEST) and they had some things to say:

““It’s super yummy!!! I’m not a big beet or carrot fan but this is surprisingly good. Also, I almost didn’t add the garnishes but they really *make it*.” ”

— Rebecca

““The flavors are so good. And it was so easy!” ”

— Megan

“Tester Laura made the soup for her family and used some of the veggies for her baby! He loved the beets. ”

Roasted Carrot & Golden Beet Soup

• 6 large carrots, washed a peeled

• 3 medium golden beets, washed and peeled

• Olive oil

• Salt

• 1 yellow onion, diced

• 5 cloves garlic

• 2 teaspoons red curry paste

• 4 cups vegetable stock or water

• 1 can coconut milk, full fat or light

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond butter 

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and chopped cashews or peanuts for topping

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 

2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. 

3. Trim the ends off the carrots and beets, peel them, and cut them into 1 inch pieces. Be sure the veggies are all close to the same size so they cook at the same pace. Scatter the carrots and beets on your prepared baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Roast for 45 minutes or until the veggies are fork tender. 

4. Meanwhile, add about 1 tablespoon of oil to a pot or dutch oven. Heat over a medium flame and, when the oil is heated, add the diced onion and the crushed garlic cloves. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent. Stir the curry paste into the pot and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the stock or water, scraping up any bits that are on the bottom of the pot, followed by the roasted carrots and beets. Bring to a low boil, then add the coconut milk. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the carrots and beets are completely fork tender.

5. Transfer the soup to a high powered blender along with the almond butter (if it won’t all fit at once, you can do this part in batches- whatever way you choose, please do not overfill the blender and take extra care not to burn yourself as hot liquids expand quickly when blended). You can also use an immersion blender if you have one on hand. Either way, blend the soup until smooth and return to the pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with the cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and chopped cashews. 

*notes: For more heat, you can add a touch of cayenne or a drizzle of sriracha. For more sweetness, a bit of maple syrup is very nice. You can sub the vegetable stock with chicken stock or water. The almond butter can be replaced with peanut butter or cashew butter.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

I'm always looking for ways to feel warm, cozy, and relaxed in my home when the temperatures drop and daylight dwindles. It usually involves sweaters, blankets, hot tea, soup, and seasonally scented candles. Nothing out of the ordinary here, right? 

Of course, I crave these comforts most on days when life is crazy and time is scarce. So, I need shortcuts: Faster ways to make my house feel cleaner, cozier, and warmer. And I look for recipes that don’t require a lot of time, prep, or cleanup. This Curried Butternut Squash Soup, for example, is a lifesaver. 

On cold, crazy days, I like to fill my favorite soup bowl to the brim with this flavorful soup and curl up the sofa with a good podcast or my favorite food magazine. We don’t have a fireplace, but if we did, you can bet that would be going as well. 

I’d love to know what you do to make your home feel as cozy as possible during this time of year! I’m always up for new ideas. In the meantime, we had a lot of fun putting together this video for you - so you can see how truly easy and beautiful this soup is!

photo by TJ Turner Pictures

This post came together thanks to a wonderful team of people. Videography, still photos, and lots of patience by Martin and TJ. Art direction and sisterly giggles by Rebecca. 

Curried butternut Squash Soup

Makes 6 servings 

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 35-40 minutes 

*Quick tip: buy pre-cut squash to really speed things up. 

• 2 1/2 lbs butternut squash, cubed
• 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
• 2-3 large garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoons ground mustard
• 1 can full fat coconut milk
• 3 cups chicken stock
• additional curry/mustard powder to taste
• white pepper and salt to taste
• toppings: cilantro, lime juice, thinly sliced fresno chilis, and roasted cashews

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Put squash, onion, garlic and carrots on one or two large, rimmed baking sheets lined with parchment. Drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt, curry and mustard, and toss to coat. 
3. Roast for 25-30 minutes or until the vegetables are just tender and golden brown on the edges. 
4. Transfer the vegetables to a soup pot and add the chicken stock and coconut milk. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. 
5. Remove the soup from the heat and use an immersion blender to blend the soup until it is smooth. 
6. Taste and adjust seasoning to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with desired toppings. 

photo by TJ Turner Pictures