Carrot and Coriander Soup

In the past week, and particularly the past 3 or 4 days, I’ve begun what is commonly known as a “health-kick”. Basically this means walk everywhere, eat healthily and go for a 2.5 mile jog every other day. One thing I have completely stopped eating is bread – I haven’t touched the stuff. In some way I miss it, in others I don’t. Basically the problem with bread is that although good bread is cheap and tastes absolutely delicious, it can make one feel really bloated. When added to the fact that bread, and white bread in particular, is essentially a bad carbohydrate that, if eaten in excess, can really pile the pounds on. In addition I’ve completely stopped drinking cider, a drink which is even more bloating than beer, and a lot sweeter. So, recently I’ve started feeling much healthier and already a little slimmer.

Of course, one of the problems with not eating bread is what on earth one replaces it with, especially since it’s been such a staple for so long. Recently the solution to this problem has been salads and houmous with a bit of cheese, which is delicious, but I need some more variety. This, in combination with the fact that mum has been banging on at me to make carrot and coriander soup prompted me to do just that – the results were to die for. This dish is seriously low fat and low calorie and, because it contains potato, onion, carrot and coriander, is really packed full of vitamins and nutrients. I honestly can’t believe I’m saying this, the Nick of old would never have listened to such a thing – then again the Nick of old was a little too chubby.

The other benefit to this soup is that it is stupidly cheap to make. Enough carrots to make plentiful soup for 6 people cost18p! This is because it’s a soup, which means you can use the lowest quality carrots in the supermarket and it won’t be noticed. Indeed, a 1.5kg bag of these carrots cost57p, which is just silly considering we used little under a third of them. This soup is also the perfect way to get carrots into those who don’t like them – me, for instance. It, in all honesty, tastes absolutely nothing like carrots considering it is composed primarily of the see-in-the-dark wonders.

Carrot and Coriander Soup {recipe}

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 500g carrots, chopped

• 1 potato, diced

• 1 onion, roughly chopped

• 1 litre vegetable stock

• 1 heaped tsp ground coriander

• 1 handful of fresh coriander

• Crème Fraîche to serve

• Oil

Method:

1. In a little oil fry the onions and potatoes in a saucepan. After a few minutes add the ground coriander and carrots. Add the vegetable stock and leave to simmer until the vegetables are tender.

2. When the carrots and potato are cooked remove from heat and blend it all together in a food processor, remembering to add the fresh coriander at this stage. Once blended to a smooth mixture reheat and serve in bowls with a small splodge of crème fraîche.

Cost:

6 medium sized bowls of this delightful soup will set one back perhaps80p. Now, that really is value for money!