Pureed Parsnip and Cardamom Soup with Caramelized Shallots
alasully
Photo by James Ransom
- Serves
- 4 to 6
Cardamom keeps sneaking its way into my recipes as of recent -- its unique versatility to play sweet or savory roles makes it a great spice to play with. Here it partners with the humble parsnip, the two complementing each other's spicy-sweet flavors. A simmer in a bath of almond milk and broth, followed by a quick whirl of the immersion blender, transforms the knobby root to a luxuriously smooth soup. Caramelized shallots add texture and round out the sweet flavor profile of the soup.
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 parsnips, around 1 1/2 pounds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more to drizzle
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
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Directions
- Step 1
Peel parsnips and remove tough woody core. Chop into 1/2 inch pieces and set aside.
- Step 2
Halve a medium onion, peel it and cut roughly into sixths.
- Step 3
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat; add onion, and saute until soft and brown, about 5 minutes. Add chopped parsnips to the pan and saute with the onion until parsnips begin to brown slightly.
- Step 4
Add 2 cups vegetable broth and 1/2 cup almond milk, plus more as desired for creaminess. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and 2 teaspoons ground cardamom. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until parsnips are soft, about 10-15 minutes.
- Step 5
When parsnips are soft, remove from heat and puree the soup with an immersion blender (or food processor / regular blender) until you reach a smooth consistency.
- Step 6
Garnish with caramelized shallots. To prepare: thinly slice 2 shallots and saute with olive oil until soft; add 1 tsp maple syrup and cook until browned and caramelized.