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Creamy Chia Coconut Ginger-Carrot Soup

Image may contain Food Food Presentation Bowl Soup Bowl Cilantro and Plate
Photo by Eric Wolfinger

To give this velvety vegan soup a tiny bit of crunch and extra visual appeal, chia seeds are stirred in after the soup is pureed.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1

(13.5-ounce) can coconut milk

1

medium yellow onion, chopped

3

/4 teaspoon sea salt

2

teaspoons peeled, grated fresh ginger

2

teaspoons Thai yellow or red curry paste

1

clove garlic, peeled and chopped

12

ounces baby carrots, quartered lengthwise

2

3/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, plus more as needed

2

tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 1 lime)

15

large cilantro sprigs plus 5 small cilantro sprigs

1

/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon black or white chia seeds

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat 1/3 cup of the coconut milk in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and salt and cook while stirring until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ginger, curry paste, and garlic and cook while stirring until well combined and fragrant, about 1 minute.

    Step 2

    Add the carrots, 2 3/4 cups of broth, the lime juice, the 15 large cilantro sprigs, and the remaining coconut milk and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until the carrots are very tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the cilantro sprigs and puree soup in batches in a blender, using the hot fill line as a guide.

    Step 3

    Transfer the pureed soup to a clean saucepan and place over low heat. Stir in 1/4 cup of the chia seeds and simmer uncovered until chia seeds are fully hydrated and soup reaches desired consistency, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Note: If soup becomes thicker than you desire, stir in additional vegetable broth by the tablespoon to reach ideal consistency.) Taste and adjust seasonings, garnish with the remaining 1 teaspoon of chia seeds and small cilantro sprigs, and serve.

Reprinted from The Chia Cookbook, by Janie Hoffman, Copyright © 2014, published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Random House LLC. Photographs copyright © 2014 by Eric Wolfinger. From the founder of Mamma Chia, the first organic chia-based food and beverage company, comes a cookbook devoted to this superfood. Beloved by the Maya and Aztecs, chia has the highest omega-3 content of any vegetarian source, more protein than soybeans, more fiber than flaxseed, more calcium than milk, and more antioxidants than blueberries. Sneak chia seeds into nearly any dish for a nutritional boost.