Probably my favorite soup ever, which is why I’ve taken it from my blog and shared it with you here. It’s so sweet and creamy with subtle hints of coconut, coriander and cumin, plus a hint of chili heat. The color is so beautiful: insanely vibrant and pink, to the point that it’s hard to believe it’s natural, as it looks more like paint! I love topping my bowl with the roast potato croutons here; they add a whole new level of texture and taste, plus they make it more filling.
Serves 1
For the soup
1 small beet
2 medium potatoes
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 teaspoon ground coriander
generous 1/2 cup coconut milk
salt and pepper
For the croutons
2 medium potatoes
olive oil
1 teaspoon chili flakes
salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 425°F (convection 400°F). Place the beet, skin on, on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until there are bubbles under the skin.
Meanwhile, peel the potatoes for the soup, place them in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes, until really soft.
To make the croutons, chop the potatoes (no need to peel) into small, bite-size pieces and place them on a baking sheet with lots of olive oil plus the chili flakes, salt and pepper. Bake for 45 minutes, until crispy outside and tender within.
When the beet is cool enough to handle, peel. Chop it in half and place it in a blender. Drain the boiled (soup) potatoes and add them to the blender with the lemon juice, chili flakes, cumin, garlic, coriander and coconut milk, plus some salt and pepper. Blend until smooth; if you find it’s too thick, add water until you reach your desired consistency.
Place in a saucepan and heat it up to the perfect temperature. Pour into a bowl and sprinkle with the roast potato croutons.
Kitchen Know-How
Save time by using ready-cooked beet, just be sure to check there aren’t any additives in it.
Tweak It
These croutons go well with many of my other soups, so go ahead and experiment.