Refreshing Chilled Carrot and Ginger Delight
Experience the vibrant flavors of our Refreshing Chilled Carrot and Ginger Delight. This soup offers a perfect balance of sweetness from fresh carrots, a spicy kick from ginger, and a hint of citrus zest from lemon juice. Ideal for warm weather, this dish is not just delightful to the taste buds but also packs a nutritious punch. Each serving provides a burst of vitamins and minerals, making it a fantastic start to any meal or a light snack on its own. Serve this chilled soup garnished with fresh cilantro for an elegant touch.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
10
Ingredients
Ingredients
Canola oil
1 tablespoon (none)
Onion, chopped
1 medium (chopped)
Carrots, sliced
2 lbs (peeled and sliced)
Peeled fresh ginger
4 quarter-size slices (peeled and sliced)
Chicken stock or low sodium chicken broth
2 1/2 cups (liquid)
Salt
to taste (none)
Fresh ground white pepper
to taste (none)
Fresh lemon juice
2-3 teaspoons (freshly squeezed)
Honey
1 teaspoon (none)
Hot sauce
1 dash (none)
Instructions
1
1. In a large saucepan, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
2
2. Add the sliced carrots and quartered ginger to the pan. Continue stirring for another 5 minutes to slightly soften the carrots.
3
3. Pour in 2 cups of chicken stock and season with salt and white pepper according to your preference. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and then reduce the heat to low. Allow to simmer for about 25 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
4
4. Remove the saucepan from heat. Strain the cooking liquid and pour it into a heatproof bowl, discarding the ginger. In a blender, combine the softened carrots and onion with 1 cup of the retained cooking liquid. Blend until smooth.
5
5. Stir the pureed vegetables back into the bowl with the cooking liquid. Add the fresh lemon juice, honey, and the remaining ½ cup of stock. Mix well and refrigerate until chilled, about 1-2 hours, or overnight for enhanced flavors.
6
6. Before serving, taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, white pepper, and a dash of hot sauce. Serve in bowls, garnished with fresh cilantro leaves.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Refreshing Chilled Carrot and Ginger Delight?
It is a vibrant, chilled soup featuring the sweetness of carrots, the spice of ginger, and a citrusy lemon finish.
How many ingredients are needed for this recipe?
There are 10 main ingredients required for this carrot and ginger delight.
What are the primary flavor components?
The main flavors are sweet carrots, spicy fresh ginger, tangy lemon juice, and a hint of honey.
How should I prepare the carrots for this soup?
The carrots should be peeled and sliced before cooking.
Do I leave the ginger slices in the final soup?
No, the ginger slices are used during simmering and then discarded before blending the vegetables.
Is this soup served hot or cold?
This soup is designed to be served chilled, making it ideal for warm weather.
How long should the soup be refrigerated?
It should be chilled for at least 1-2 hours, or overnight for even better flavor development.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, simply substitute the chicken stock with vegetable broth to make it vegetarian-friendly.
What type of oil is used to sauté the onions?
The recipe calls for one tablespoon of canola oil.
How long do I simmer the carrots?
The carrots should simmer in the stock for approximately 25 minutes or until they are tender.
What is used to garnish the soup?
The soup is traditionally garnished with fresh cilantro leaves for an elegant touch.
Does the recipe include any sweetener?
Yes, one teaspoon of honey is added to balance the flavors.
Is there a spicy element in the soup?
Yes, the recipe includes fresh ginger and a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
What kind of pepper is recommended?
Fresh ground white pepper is used to season the soup.
How much chicken stock is required in total?
A total of 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock or low sodium chicken broth is used.
Should the onions be browned?
No, the onions should be cooked until they are soft and translucent, which takes about 5 minutes.
Can I use a blender for this recipe?
Yes, a blender is used to puree the softened carrots and onions with some of the cooking liquid.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, based on the ingredients listed, this recipe is gluten-free.
What amount of carrots is needed?
The recipe requires 2 pounds of carrots.
How much ginger should I use?
You should use 4 quarter-size slices of peeled fresh ginger.
When do I add the lemon juice?
The lemon juice is stirred in after the vegetables are pureed and mixed back with the cooking liquid.
Can I adjust the seasoning after chilling?
Yes, it is recommended to taste and adjust the salt, white pepper, and hot sauce just before serving.
What is the texture of the finished soup?
The soup has a smooth, pureed texture once the carrots and onions are blended.
Is this a light snack or a full meal?
It can be served as a fantastic start to a meal or as a light snack on its own.
How much honey is in the recipe?
The recipe uses exactly one teaspoon of honey.
Can I use lime instead of lemon?
While the recipe calls for lemon, lime could be used for a slightly different citrus profile.
Is the ginger chopped?
No, the ginger is sliced into quarters to flavor the broth and then removed.
What are some tags for this recipe?
Tags include chilled soup, carrot soup, healthy recipe, and summer soup.
How many teaspoons of lemon juice are used?
The recipe calls for 2-3 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice.
Why is the ginger discarded?
The ginger is discarded after simmering because its purpose is to infuse the liquid with flavor without being blended into the texture.