Creamy Carrot and Leek Soup
Ring in Spring with this Carrot Soup Recipe. An ultra silky Cream of Carrot Soup, made with the classic carrot-leek combination, just in time for spring parties!
One of my favorite seasons for food is when hearty winter dishes collide with the fresh flavors of spring. The amalgamation of rustic warming meals with light playful ingredients is almost more than I care bare.
It signifies spring is right around the corner. Crocuses and Hyacinth will shoot up any moment, and barefoot tiptoeing through soft blades of grass is in the near future.
This is a season of anticipation, and I crave dishes that reflect it.
Find these bowls at Villeroy & Boch.
Today’s Carrot Soup Recipe is a wonderful winter-to-spring transition dish, because it’s creamy, filling, and piping-hot, yet has light-hearted flirtatious ingredients like leeks and Sauvignon Blanc.
The carrot-leek duo offers a tangy sweetness to the soup, with a rich velvety texture from sour cream.
I used Real California Sour Cream like this “Canadian-style” sour cream from Karoun Dairy, because it is extravagantly creamy. Almost like creme fraiche with a tang.
Sigh.
Cream of carrot soup is easy to make and would be perfect for soup-and-salad night, yet lavish enough to serve at your first spring dinner party.
Not only that, it was tested and approved by the toughest critics I know, Lt. Dan, our resident Soup Nazi and “Thunderbolt Viking Collier”… our bunny.
Thunderbolt is our household expert on all-things-carrot.
Both Lt. Dan and Thunderbolt agreed, this carrot soup recipe is something special.
“Bunny-Approved Carrot Soup Recipe”
Disclosure: No bunnies were harmed in the making of this post, only kissed on the nose incessantly. …And no soup bowls headed for the dinner table were tested by Thunderbolt.
Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Carrot Soup Recipe
Creamy Carrot Leek Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. carrots
- 3 large leeks
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 Tb. butter
- 1 Tb. fresh thyme leaves (1 tsp. dried)
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 8 cups low-sodium vegetable stock (or chicken stock)
- 1 cup springy white wine, like Sauvignon Blanc
- 1/2 cup Real California Sour Cream or Creme Fraiche
- Salt and Pepper
Directions:
- Trim the carrots and chop them into rough 1/2 inch chunks. Trim the root-end off the leeks and cut the white section into quarters. Slice across into small 1/2 inch pieces. (Save the greens for homemade stock.) Place the chopped leeks in a colander and rinse thoroughly--they are often sandy.
- Place a large pot over medium heat. Add the butter, carrots, leeks and garlic and saute for 10 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Then add the thyme, lemon zest, stock, wine, 1 tsp. salt, and pepper to taste. Cover and bring to a boil. Stir and cover again. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the soup looks murky and the carrots are soft.
- Ladle the soup into a high-powered blender. (You might have to do this in two batches.) Place the lid on the blender and open the top vent for steam. Lay a dish towel over the top of the blender and hold firmly as you turn the blender on. Pressure from blending hot liquids can blow the top off and burn you, so be careful--open vent, cover with towel, hold tight! Puree until smooth. Then add the sour cream to the blender and puree again.
- Pour both batches back into the sauce pot and stir to blend. Serve warm.
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65 Responses to “Creamy Carrot and Leek Soup”
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This soup sounds divine and the bunny pictures are so cute!!!
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I just made a simple carrot soup similar to this yesterday for lunch. I love how quickly you can throw one together and have it look/taste like you slaved over it
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I just wanted you to know that I included your recipe in a leek round up. I will be pinning and tweeting it this week too.
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The soup sounds divine. You are a fantastic photographer too!
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What a delicious soup! Just tried it this week, and it was quite a hit! Will be featuring the recipe on my blog soon – with a link back to you, of course! Thanks so much for sharing – and those bunny pictures??? I die!
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If chicken soup is one of your favorite meals, it pays to keep an eye on which restaurants feature real homemade soup. Many are generally adding additional ethnic tastes now, so you should find a new favorite that features spicy Mexican flavors, and also subtle Asian tastes. For those who have issues with additives such as MSG, it is imperative that you really ask the staff about the soup preparation. The last thing you want is an allergic reaction to the food. Once you find a restaurant that will serves a soup you prefer, do not be afraid to offer them praise. Knowing a customer appreciates the extra prep involved, they are likely to continue. ^
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Sommer, Your soup sounds and looks divine and your bunny is adorable! I will be making it this weekend since I have all the ingredients on hand. Your blog has some wonderful recipes and beautiful food pics and I will be sharing them with my social network.
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Awesome
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I subscribe to your blog and I am very grateful to you for every post. I don’t seem to have time to cook very much myself lately, but I appreciate you’re inspiring pictures and descriptions. Hopefully I will be able to set aside some time to get back in there. Thank You.
I did want to make 2 other comments.
(1) I live in Canada and I have Never heard of “Canadian – Style” Sour Cream. That sounds so intriguing and kind of funny too. I will have to pick some up next time I cross the line. (Not available in Canada)
(2) You have an adorable Bunny.
Keep up the great work and Thank You again.
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