First off, let me just say that the juice feast is over and I feel like a million bucks. Truly. It’s like I’ve woken up.
Easing back into my regular diet again, I find myself still craving gentle, liquid food. I think soups are a very nice way to transition because they are easy to digest and highly nutritious. Plus, they introduce fiber back into your system slowly and soothingly. Ahhhhh. Doesn’t that feel good?
This soup is a celebration of freshness – in the body and in the season. Using the beautiful local produce that has just arrived, I was feeling inspired to create something that tastes clean and bright, especially after a week of juices.
The orange soup is a carrot, ginger, and miso blend, while the green soup features sweet peas and fresh mint, but any fresh herb would be outstanding. Delicious on their own, they are even more divine side by side as their opposing flavours somehow make friends in your mouth. Incredible. Plus, they look totally groovy hanging out together.
The other wonderful aspect of this dish is that you can serve it warm or cold. I have been enjoying it chilled in fact, even though cold soups have never really been my thing. In the sudden heat that June has brought us, it’s really a delectable relief, and I am excited to explore spring and summer soups further!
Now, I know that you think I must be crazy to suggest making two totally different soups for one meal, but I’ve made it quite simple to do, plus you may even have leftovers you can freeze for another time.
Carrot-Ginger-Miso Soup
3 Tbsp. ghee or coconut oil
3 small yellow onions, diced
2 inches, fresh ginger, minced
4 cups chopped and peeled carrots (about 1 1/2 pounds)
4 cups / 1 liter water
1/2 cup / 125ml freshly squeezed orange juice
1-2 Tbsp. white miso, to taste
sea salt to taste
Minted Pea Soup
3 small yellow onions
3 Tbsp. ghee or coconut oil
2 lbs. / 1kg green peas – you can also use frozen
5 cups / 1.25 liters vegetable stock
3/4 cup packed fresh mint leaves (or any other herb you like: basil, cilantro, parsley etc.)
juice of 1 lemon
sea salt to taste
Directions (both soups at once):
1. Dice onions and set aside.
2. Place two pots on the stove and add the fat of your choice. When warm, add onions to both pots and minced ginger to one, add some salt. Cook until onions are translucent. Set the “onion only” pot aside.
3. In the onion and ginger pot, add chopped carrots and stir. Pour in water, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the carrots are soft.
4. When the carrots are almost tender, put the other pot back on the burner, add peas and stock. Simmer, uncovered for 5-7 minutes, just until the peas are bright green and crisp, then turn off the heat. Do your best not to overcook them.
5. Now you have the base for both soups. Hook up your blender and puree the soups respectively (be careful when blending hot liquids). While the carrot soup is blending, add orange juice, miso, and salt to taste. While the pea soup is blending, add the mint, lemon juice, and salt to taste.
6. To serve, pour one soup on one half and a bowl, and the other soup beside it. They will be similar densities, so they shouldn’t blend together, just rub shoulders. If desired, garnish with fresh mint, or other green herb, lightly toasted pistachios, and a drizzle of quality olive oil.
Serve warm if it’s chilly outside, serve chilled if it’s hot.
This was a hit! Both are great soups on their own, but even more special together. So vibrant and fresh!
How many servings does this make?
Just made this soup combo for a mid-week dinner. Added a bit of red cabbage to the carrot soup, as it needed used, and topped with toasted sunflower seeds and fresh mint. The soups tasted amazing together – the spice of the ginger, the sharpness of the lemon, the heartiness of the carrot and the freshness of the mint. Will definitely be making again – easy, delicious and fun.
That’s great Jess! And thanks for letting me know about the additions – I’m always curious to see how / what people do with my recipes 🙂 I hope you continue to find some inspiration here…
Much love and happy cooking,
Sarah B
A dinner to cater for friends and your somptuous recipe came together on the same day and without a hesitation I made the soups, wondering all along how they would stay separated. They did! Absolutely delightful mix of sweet and tart… And an amazing presentation. My guests loved it and I did too! Thank you Sarah!
Wonderful, gotta love “Seasonal-Psychedelic-Symagery-Imagery”style!!!!!
Wow, this is gorgeous! Would love a bowl of this RIGHT NOW. 🙂 …Susan
Love the idea of carrot, ginger and miso, all wrapped up in one soup. Bookmarking this one for a nippy day.
This is so cool! I’m still amazed that the soups aren’t mixing together. I need to try this!
http://amusebouche-caitlin.blogspot.com/
Delicious and beautiful, but can’t figure out what the coconut oil is for.
Beautiful!
Why psychedelic ? The soup is great, and the idea to “divide” the plate is very appealing (by the way, in Krakow, my hometown, in one restaurant, they serve a similar soup in a similar way). Have a nice weekend.
Wow I love both of these recipes! I can’t wait to make both soups.