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Carrot & Potato Soup


I can be such a sucker for soup. Some days you just need soup. Nothing else will warm you up. A nice cuppa tea might work for a little while, but soup has the sustaining power.

Carrot & Potato Soup (Adapted from Ciao Italia)

3 leeks, chopped
olive oil
3 1/2 c vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
4 medium carrots, grated
2 potatoes, grated
pinch cinnamon
lemon zest
lemon juice
splash of white balsamic vinegar (optional)
Salt/Pepper

Saute leek with salt in olive oil until softened. Add stock and bay leaf. Bring stock to boil. Add the carrots and potato and cook until softened (about 7-10 minutes). Discard bay leaf. Puree soup until smooth. Stir in cinnamon, lemon zest, and lemon juice (and balsamic if using).

I added a little white balsamic vinegar. I found the lemon juice added some flavor but not enough. It needed a little more acid. This soup cooks so quickly because the potato and carrot are grated. Yes, you might have to pull that food processor out, but how else can you have soup in about 20 minutes from start to finish? If you want to be a little decadent, a swirl Creme Fraiche would not be amiss here.

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