Bambu is teaming up with Gritty Gourmet to bring you easy, healthy recipes, cooking tips, and more. As the cold weather begins to settle in, we’re sharing our favorite seasonal soup recipe. Featuring nearly all seasonally available ingredients, this tasty leek soup is a meal in itself. Savor the flavors of freshly picked herbs, enjoy the warming sensation of white pepper, and share a bowl with someone you love!
Here’s why we’re loving this delicious, seasonal soup recipe:
- It harnesses the power of fresh, seasonal ingredients
- White pepper adds a touch of unique warmth that can be adjusted to your liking
- Fresh herbs offer savory flavor perfect for cooler weather
- Rich coconut milk creates a creamy (and 100% vegan) base
The Bounty of Seasonal Soup Ingredients
As the weather changes and the harvest season begins to wind down, it’s more important than ever to carefully consider the ingredients we choose for our meals. In America, it’s commonplace to see fresh fruit in supermarkets all winter long. However, these items are flown in from across the world to get into our grocery baskets. This leaves a large environmental footprint that can be avoided by choosing seasonally available ingredients. Plus, as you’ll soon find out, seasonally available produce tends to lead to some especially delicious soups.
In October and November, much of America is home to a relatively local bounty of leeks, cauliflower, rosemary, sage, and thyme. These earthy ingredients have a naturally complimentary flavor that are ideal for seasonal soups and other dishes. And, because they’re in season, you’ll find that they contain more nutrients and fresher taste than out-of-season ingredients that are subject to days (or weeks) of travel time before they make it to your plate.
Fresh vs. Dried Herbs
This seasonal soup recipe features a trifecta of fresh herbs, but you may be wondering if their dried counterparts are just as flavorful. Generally speaking, fresh herbs have a stronger, more pungent flavor, while dried herbs hold a more hearty flavor. And both fresh and dried herbs carry health benefits that may reduce the risk of chronic disease. If you’re new to cooking with fresh herbs, use a slightly smaller amount of the fresh ingredient in this soup, then taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Herbs are a fantastic way to connect with the flavor of the season, which is why they are the driving force behind this seasonal soup recipe. The earthy combination of rosemary, thyme, and sage is a time-tested flavor profile that’s perfect for warming up after a day spent in cooler weather.
A soup lovers favorite tool: The Spoontula
Cooking this seasonal soup may only take one pot, but it can often require more tools than expected. After all, many of the best soups (like this seasonal recipe) start by sauteing freshly chopped onions and garlic. To keep those ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pot, a sharp edge, like you’d find on a spatula, is required. But once the soup nears completion, it needs to be stirred with a spoon to properly combine flavors. Luckily, a handy tool that we like to call the Spoontula can handle both scenarios. This ingenious tool is a half spoon, half spatula mix that’s ideal for all stages of soup-making. Every winter, it quickly becomes one of our most-used kitchen utensils for every recipe.
Savory Seasonal Soup Recipe with Leek and White Pepper
Ingredients:
- 1 head cauliflower
- 2 leeks
- 2 potatoes (russet, red, or yellow, it doesn’t matter. Pick what’s seasonally appropriate in your area)
- 1 medium white onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 16 oz coconut milk
- 5 oz coconut cream
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons oil of choice (or, if you prefer a creamier flavor, use butter or ghee)
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 4 large leaves of fresh sage, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon white pepper, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
Eco-friendly cookware and tools:
- Bambu Kitchen Basics Utensils
- Bambu Spoontula
- Large pot
- Bambu Cutting Board
- Bambu Tasting Spoon
- Bambu Artisan Board
- Chef’s knife
- Bambu Condiment Cups
- Serving Bowls
- Bambu Spoon, Knife, Fork
Directions:
- Cut the white onion in half, then thinly slice into strips. Remove rosemary, thyme, and sage leaves from their stems, and slice sage leaves into thin strips. Dice garlic, then add onions, garlic, and fresh herbs to a large pot with two tablespoons of the oil (or butter) you prefer. Heat and saute over medium heat for two minutes.
- While onions, garlic, and herbs are cooking, cut leeks into ¼ inch segments. Typically, only the white part of the leek is used. Save the remainder to make homemade vegetable broth with, or compost it. Then, quarter and thinly slice potatoes. Cut the cauliflower head into 1-inch pieces, then add leeks, potatoes, and cauliflower to the pot. Cook for three minutes, stirring frequently to keep ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Add in coconut cream, salt and white pepper. Stir to coat vegetables, then cover and cook for five minutes. Then, taste and adjust seasoning as desired. If you prefer a stronger flavor, add more fresh herbs.
- Stir in coconut milk and vegetable broth, then reduce heat until a steady simmer is reached. Cover and cook soup for 15 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender.
- Remove from heat, and add 80% of the soup to a blender or food processor. Blend on high for 20 seconds or until smooth, then add back to the remaining soup. Stir to combine. Taste and make any final seasoning adjustments. Serve soup immediately with a side of warm bread.
This seasonal soup recipe serves 4.
Why use bamboo cooking utensils?
Bamboo cookware has many benefits. Cookware and utensils made from bamboo won’t harm, stick to, or scratch your dishes. Searching for cookware that’s safe for your family? Bamboo cookware is naturally non-toxic, and you can be sure that any cookware and bamboo utensils made by Bambu are certified and sustainably sourced. While other bamboo utensils are often made from several pieces of bamboo that need to be glued together and covered with heavy lacquer, bambu crafts all of our utensils from a single piece of organic bamboo. No glue, lacquer, or chemicals needed. As enthusiastic home chefs ourselves, we pride ourselves in only making items we’d use in our own kitchen.
Are you adding this savory seasonal soup recipe to your list of easy dinners? There’s more where it came from! Sign up for emails to be the first to know when new recipes come out.
Want to learn more about the benefits of seasonal eating? Read this.
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