Caribbean Curry Carrot Soup

A word of advice from a novice gardener: Carrots are much bigger than carrot seeds. Somehow, fifty-odd square feet of garden space doesn't seem like that much when it's being planted, but it can produce a surprising haul, most especially in the carrot department. Praise be that carrots are delicious, so their being excessively plentiful is a problem I'm thankful to have! This soup is hearty and delicious, made velvety by the soft puree of carrots, and the sunny flavors of Caribbean Curry. We've dressed it up a little with the prawns, but this soup can easily be made vegan by omitting them and using red miso paste in favor of the Worcestershire powder.

Ingredients

Olive oil, for sautéing
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1-1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1-1/2 lbs. carrots, peeled and chopped
3 cups chicken, vegetable, or seafood stock
3/4 cups mild, dry white wine
1 California Bay Leaf
1/4 cup Caribbean Curry, ground
Sel de Mer
1 can coconut milk
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
Juice of 1 lime, plus wedges from 1 more for serving
Pinch of brown or raw sugar
Freshly picked cilantro leaves for garnish
12 prawns
1 tablespoon Hungarian Paprika
1 teaspoon Indian Cayenne

Directions

Heat oil, and sauté onions, garlic, ginger, and carrots for five minutes. Deglaze with wine, and reduce until pan is nearly dry.

Add stock, bay leaf, and 1 tablespoon of the curry, cover, and simmer until carrots are very tender, about 15 minutes.

Remove bay leaf. In a food processor or blender, puree soup until smooth. Work in small batches for best results, adding in some of the coconut milk to aid in the blending. Strain the processed soup through a wire mesh strainer in to a clean pot, and return the mixture to the stove over low heat.

Add the remaining coconut milk, Worcestershire powder, sugar, and curry, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired seasoning level is reached. Add lime juice, and adjust for salt.

Rub prawns with paprika and cayenne, and grill or sear them.

Ladle soup into bowls, and garnish each with two prawns, a wedge of lime, and a few leaves of cilantro.

Notes:

If you're short on time, or you perhaps planned your garden space better than I did, and therefore the creative utilization of carrots is not a pressing issue for you, a can of pumpkin puree is an excellent substitution.

Tags: Bay Leaf Caribbean Curry Carrots Cayenne Curry Dinner Lunch Paprika Pumpkin Soup Worcestershire