Creamy Carrot and Potato Soup

 

         It's raining in my place. So I made this soup, it came out really creamy and delicious. Vegetable soups are a healthy and comforting food to include in your diet. This thick soup is very easy to make, it has got bright orange color and a hint of  exotic smell. Adding smoked paprika and Italian seasoning gives a nice spark to this soup. Try this soup and let me know your feedback.


    Ingredients

           1 Large Size Red Potato, Finely Chopped
           2 Medium Size Carrot, Finely Chopped
           1 Large Yellow Onion, Finely Chopped
           2 Garlic Cloves, Finely Chopped
           4 Mushrooms, Finely Chopped
           1/4 Tsp of Italian Seasoning
           1/2 Tsp of Cayenne Pepper
           Pinch of Smoked Paprika (Opt)
           1/2 Cup of Milk
           3 Cups of Vegetable Broth or Water
           2 Tbsp of Olive Oil
           Salt and Pepper to taste

    To Garnish

           1 Green Onion, Finely Chopped
           Dollop of Sour cream or yogurt
           Few Crackers
           

  
    Method

• Heat a pan with olive oil, add onion and garlic, saute this for 2 mins.
• Add carrots, potato, mushroom, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, salt and pepper, saute this for 2 mins.
• Add required amount of water, bring it to rolling boil, then simmer it for 15 mins in medium-low flame until vegetables are tender.
• Add milk, cook it for 2mins and turn off the flame.
• Carefully transfer carrot-potato mixture to a blender or food processor. Take 2 tbsp of carrot- potato mixture, keep this aside in a separate bowl.
• Blend until smooth, add salt and pepper, if necessary.
• Serve this in a soup bowl along with 2 tbsp of carrot-potato pieces, garnish it with chopped green onions and sour cream or yogurt at the top.
• Enjoy this hot soup with crackers on a rainy day.

    Tips

• If you eat meat, then you can add beef pieces to it.
• You can use butter instead of olive oil.
• Adding smoked paprika is optional, it gives a smokey flavor to the soup.
• You can use chicken broth or vegetable broth to the soup instead of water.
• You can add any kind of cheese to this soup.

   Health Benefits of Carrot and Potato Soup

• Potato are high in fat and calorie content, potato soup is a good source of calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B-12
• Carrot soup is rich in beta-carotene, a phytochemical compound with antioxidant activity that can protect you against some chronic diseases.