This classic soup brings together two nutritional powerhouse vegetables in a simple, delicious broth. Carrots add natural sweetness while celery contributes an earthy note, and together they create a light yet satisfying soup. By blending carrots and celery, you infuse every spoonful with an array of vitamins, minerals, and fibre that are excellent for your health and digestion. A dash of fresh herbs like thyme enhances the savoury balance of flavours in each bowl. For an extra bright note, finishing with a squeeze of lemon takes the soup to the next level.
Whether you’re craving something warm and cozy on a cold day or need an easy grab-and-go meal, this soup perfectly fits the bill. In just one pot, you have a nourishing meal or snack that can easily be enjoyed all week long.
Contents
Carrot and Celery Soup
We will be exploring the ingredients we require, and methods to make this.
Why You Will Love this
This carrot and celery soup is an easy and light recipe that is ready in just 30 minutes using only one pot. Being a one pot soup, it caters to many speciality diets as it is vegan, gluten-free, nuts free, dairy free and grain free. The hearty vegetable base of carrots and celery not only gives this soup a delicious sweet and savoury flavour, but is also very healthy for your gut. The combination of these vegetables makes this soup a perfect option for those looking for a comforting meal that is also nutrient dense.
The best part is that with only a handful of pantry staple ingredients needed, it can be on the table quickly on busy weeknights. The soft textures and warming spices in this soup makes it incredibly satiating and satisfying to eat, leaving you feeling nourished from a single bowl.
Ingredient Notes
When selecting carrots for this soup, choose plump carrots that are bright orange in color for a lighter, sweeter taste and less bitterness. The light green leaves of celery are perfectly edible and packed with nutrients, so don’t discard them. For best flavour, use the inner celery stalks, which are less stringy and have a brighter, peppery taste. Cut the celery into approximately 5 cm or 2-inch chunks, which is a good size for a soup.
For the celery root, also known as celeriac, it is important to use a fresh bulb with no bruising or soft spots. Thoroughly peel and clean the celeriac well to remove any grit before chopping. Six cups of chopped vegetables which is a combination of carrots, celery, and celeriac will yield a wonderful soup that is creamy and soothing without the need for dairy or cream.
Step-by-Step Guide
- In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add 1 chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are semi-translucent, about 5 minutes. This step is significant to sweat the onions and bring out their natural sugars without colouring them, adding sweetness to the base of the soup.
- Once the onions have sweated, add the chopped carrot, celery, and celeriac. Continue to stir, so the veggies do not stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Cover with a lid and allow everything to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Then add 6 cups of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and add minced garlic, ginger, thyme and 1 teaspoon salt.
- Simmer with the lid slightly ajar until the vegetables become very soft and tender, about 20–30 minutes. Serve warm either on its own or with additions like herbs, crackers, or croutons.
What to Serve with?
This warming carrot and celery soup is delicious enough to enjoy on its own, but can be taken to the next level when paired with fresh bread or baked goods. For a home style compliment, serve the soup with damper, a type of special bread that is baked outdoors over an open fire. You can also try offering it with fresh oregano bread scrolls, which are rolls flavoured with dried oregano and easy to make perfectly with this meal.
Those looking for a heartier starter can serve the soup alongside a vegan shepherd’s pie, vegan vegetable, nuts rice like Maqlouba or upside-down rice pilaf. Alternately, a gluten-free vegan lasagna or vegan mushroom pasta also make wonderful pairings for soakings up every last drop of the broth. For something a bit more fun and festive, vegan sausage rolls or a platter of real roasted root vegetables are tasty accompaniments.
Pro Tips
When making this soup, it is recommended to use a bottom heavy pot to avoid the contents from burning on the bottom during cooking. Cutting the celery, carrots, and onions uniformly into similar sized pieces will not only create a more aesthetically pleasing soup but also allows for even cooking. Whilst sweating just the onion, it is recommended to add the chopped carrot and celery as well, as this makes the soup sweeter by extracting more natural sugars from the vegetables without needing to throw everything into the pot separately to cook through, saving time in the process. If deciding to use differently coloured carrots like purple, red, or yellow instead of just orange, take note that this may change the overall color of the finished soup.
Variations
For an oil free version of this soup, sweat the onions in a few tablespoons of water instead of olive oil. This provides a lighter option that still allows the onions’ flavours to release whilst sautéing, but cleanses the palate more for those following a salt-free or cleansing diet like the 369 Cleanse. For an even silkier smooth texture, use an immersion blender to blend some or all of the soup ingredients straight in the pot after cooking.
You can also opt to use vegetable stock instead of water if wanting more depth of flavour from the start. Always do a taste test once blended, and feel free to add more stock or freshly squeezed lemon juice if wanting some brightness and sourness to cut through the natural sweetness of the carrots.
Storage Tips
- This recipe is excellent for meal prep, as the soup stores well in individual containers or separated into single portions for lunch or dinners throughout the week when kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Leftover soup can also be frozen for longer term storage of up to 3 months. The texture may change slightly after thawing, so vegetables may be a bit softer. Planning meals with this in mind can aid in using it up before it thaws fully.
- When freezing, it’s best to omit any dairy or milk that was added until reheating, since these ingredients can curdle during the thawing process. The soup can be safely thawed and reheated on the stove or in the microwave.
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Nutrition
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving |
| Calories | 47 |
| Carbohydrates | 10g |
| Protein | 1g |
| Total Fat | 1g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 124 mg |
| Potassium | 344 mg |
| Fiber | 3g |
| Sugar | 4g |
| Vitamin A | 10391IU |
| Vitamin C | 8 mg |
| Calcium | 58 mg |
| Iron | 1 mg |
Conclusion
In conclusion, this Carrot and Celery Soup recipe provides an easy, healthy and satisfying meal that can be enjoyed throughout the week. Bringing together just a few budget-friendly ingredients, it maximizes the vitamins, minerals, and fibre naturally present in carrots and celery while tasting delicious hot or cold. Whether making a big batch ahead of time for meal prepping, freezing extra portions, or simply enjoying a comforting bowl, the soup is highly adaptable to any schedule.
With options to alter flavours or textures, it also suits preferences for lighter or heartier meals. Overall, the carrot and celery soup delivers pure nutrition in every comforting spoonful, clearly earning its status as a kitchen staple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make it ahead of time?
Yes, soups are a great option to make ahead of meals for the week. This celery and carrot soup can be enjoyed throughout the week if made in a big batch. For storage, fully cool the made soup before transferring to airtight containers, and it will keep well in the fridge for around 4 days.
Can you freeze it?
The consensus is that soups with dairy may curdle if defrosted and reheated slowly after being frozen. However, this soup without dairy should keep well frozen for 2 to 3 months. Be sure to defrost in the fridge and gently stir before microwaving or heating the frozen soup.
What do you serve it with?
A bowl of this comforting and delicious soup can be served with crusty bread, garlic dough balls or pieces of garlic bread for extra flavour and crunch. You can also top each bowl with air fried croutons.
What does celery do to soups?
When chopped and sweated or browned at the beginning alongside onion, celery adds great aroma and flavour to soups, especially in a Western context where it is commonly used in aromatic vegetable mixtures.
Is celery soup good for the stomach?
As celery contains natural fibre like soluble fibre, it is considered an essential food for digestive health. The fibre ferments in the bacteria of the large intestine, aiding the fermentation process, which benefits digestive health.
How long does it take to soften carrots and celery?
Following the directions, once stock/water and the medium-sized chopped carrots and celery are at a rapid boil in a stock pot, it will usually take 10 to 12 minutes for them to become tender.
What are the benefits of carrot soup?
Carrot soup provides nutrition from carrots including fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and antioxidants which are beneficial for eye health, heart health, skin health, brain function and boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation.
