Harissa Carrot Soup

Name: Harissa Carrot Soup
Prep time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. olive oil

3.5

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1 Review

An unexpected ingredient adds lusciousness to this fragrant and flavorful soup.

By Staff Author

Published on February 15, 2023

Harissa Carrot Soup — Photo:
Victor Protasio

Prep Time:

40 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Servings:

4

A great cook knows the secret to unbelievable pasta is reserving some of the pasta water to create a sauce that’s rich and flavorful. But here’s a new cooking hack: keep some extra pasta water on hand to enhance soups, too. The salty pasta water helps to season this cumin-and-cinnamon spiced soup while the starch in the water adds body. (If you don’t have any reserved pasta water in the fridge, simply add more broth.) This earthy soup has a subtle kick from harissa, a spiced red chile paste hailing from Tunisia that’s now widely available in supermarkets. Find it in a jar or tube in the condiment or international aisle.

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (about 1 Tbsp.)
2 tbsp mild harissa paste (such as Mina)
1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 lb carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
4 cups lower-sodium vegetable broth
2 cups pasta water
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
Toasted hazelnuts or walnuts
Greek yogurt, for serving
Mint leaves, for serving

Directions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes.
Add garlic, harissa, ginger, cumin, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add carrots, broth, pasta water, and salt. Bring to a simmer over high. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
Use an immersion blender to puree soup until smooth. (Alternatively, blend soup in batches in a blender, removing center piece of lid to allow steam to escape and placing a towel over opening.) Stir in lemon juice and honey. Serve with desired toppings.