Carrot Ginger Soup (Vegan, Dairy-Free, Paleo)

This carrot ginger soup is full of bold flavors. It is creamy (yet dairy-free and vegan), satisfying, and so delicious! I'll share with you the secret that makes this carrot ginger soup stand out from the rest. And, no need to give up your healthy eating ways, this carrot ginger soup is gluten-free, paleo and whole 30 compliant. 

I enjoy exploring new recipes and techniques, and occasionally, feel like a mad scientist in the kitchen. Sometimes these cooking experiments turn into a bust. Other times, it's exhilarating watching the magic happen, and the flavors blending into tasty and mouthwatering dishes. This vegan carrot ginger soup was one of those instant winners—spoonful after spoonful of delicious layers.

How to make carrot ginger soup taste better

As the title suggests, the star of this recipe is the carrots. What sets this recipe apart and elevates it to the next level is ROASTING the carrots. When roasting, the carrots become caramelized and give a particular sweetness to the soup. In addition, the warm spiciness of ginger adds a balancing touch. Lastly, it all comes together with mellow and creamy coconut milk, making the soup naturally vegan and dairy-free.

How to make vegan carrot ginger soup

Step 1 - Roast The Veggies For Max Flavor

Begin by preheating the oven to 425 F.

Scrub the carrots and parsnips (if using) and peel the garlic. Cut the carrots and parsnips to your liking, just keep them the same size so they cook evenly. I prefer to cut them on a diagonal into 1.5-inch pieces, so they can roast quicker. In a bowl, mix the carrots and parsnips with a drizzle of avocado oil and spices like coriander, cinnamon, and Aleppo pepper (feel free to swap with paprika).

Transfer everything in the bowl to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast until caramelized, about 30 minutes.

Step 2 - Create a broth and aromatics

In a dutch oven or a soup pot, saute leeks (you can swap with shallot or small onion) and celery in olive oil. Mix with a spatula and cook until the vegetables have softened about 4-5 minutes. Add grated fresh ginger. Along with this, I like to add this fantastic Vadouvan seasoning from La Boite. As a side note, Lior from La Boite makes impressive spice blends, and Vadouvan is one of my favorites. It's delicate and has this incredible aroma, a nice intro into Indian spices. Vadouvan is a sweet and savory Indian curry spice blend with French influences. It often contains fenugreek, cumin, onion, and garlic. So it's easy to recreate the spice notes if you don't have it on hand and/or hard to find at the store.

Cooking Options

Keep It Simple: Skip the optional spices like Vadouvan

Take It Up A Notch: Source and use Vadouvan seasoning or create it yourself by mixing fenugreek, cumin, onion, and garlic

Step 3 - Putting it all together

Once the carrots, parsnips, and garlic have roasted and cooled off, add them to the dutch oven (soup pot) and combine with the other ingredients. Add a few sprigs of thyme (also optional), coconut milk, and water (can use vegetable stock too).

Just a note on the liquids. In total, you should have 4 cups of liquid. One of my preferred brands of coconut milk is Aroy-D. It contains 100% coconut milk; no guar gums, or additives and it comes in a carton and not a can. However, the carton is smaller in size (8.5 ounces) compared to the regular can of coconut milk (at 13.5 ounces) and difficult to source or find at a local store. As a result, I usually order it online.

Another great option and easier to find is the Trader Joe's Organic Coconut Milk (13.5 Fl Oz) can. That said, depending on what coconut milk you are using, adjust the water or vegetable stock so in total there are 4 cups (coconut milk + water). Also if you prefer a thinner consistency, use more liquid/water. I prefer mine to be a thicker consistency.

Add kefir lime leaves and carrot tops, for extra flavor, and if you have them on hand. But don't fret if you don't, simply omit. Over low to medium heat, bring to a gentle boil and season with salt. Cook for about 7 to 10 minutes so all the flavors are blended.

Finally, once its ready, remove the carrot tops and kefir lime leaves, before pureeing the soup. Use a hand blender to puree to desired consistency.

Serving Suggestions

This roasted and creamy soup is great served with:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Fresh herbs (dill, cilantro, parsley)
• Sourdough croutons (simply cut sourdough bread into square chunks, and pan sear in some butter)
• A drizzle of olive oil

More Soup Recipes:

Vegetarian Green Borscht (Spinach Soup)

Lastly, if you try this recipe, I would love to hear about it! Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! And if you snapped some photos, tag and share them with me on Instagram.

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