Vegan Chestnut Soup
I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas, and I hope everyone got their party on for New Year’s Eve!! I know I did…..hah! I learned that in downtown Vancouver at 2am on New Year’s Eve, it may take two hours to find a cab. I learned that you may have to walk for blocks and blocks while your feet are killing you. I learned that none of that really matters as long as you had fun, dancing for hours with your friends! Now I’m taking some time to figure out what my goals are for this year, and how to make them happen. Did anyone make any big resolutions??
If you are looking for a bonus Christmas present, make sure you enter my contest for a big ol’ jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil!
My latest recipe is for a super delicious vegan chestnut soup. I know, it sounds strange! But it’s really tasty- just a super rich, creamy soup….but best of all, it’s dairy-free! Just a potato, and a bit of cashew cream to thicken this silky smooth soup. I used a can of chestnut puree, but I’m sure that you could substitute roasted chestnuts, or canned, peeled, chestnuts. Give it a try, and let me know how it goes!
Vegan Chestnut Soup
By Koko, January 3, 2013
Silky smooth and creamy chestnut soup. Vegan.
Ingredients:
Soup: –
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 2 Tbsp
- White Onion – 1, chopped
- Garlic cloves – 2, minced
- Celery – 1 cup, chopped
- Bay Leaf – 1
- Nutmeg – pinch
- Fresh Thyme – 2-3 tsp
- Salt and Pepper – To taste
- Vegetable stock – 4 cups
- Potato – 1, diced
- Chestnut Puree – 1 can, 439 grams
- Cashew Cream: –
- Raw cashews – 1/2 cup
- Water – 1/4 cup
–
Instructions:
Prepare cashew cream. In a blender, add cashews and water until smooth. Best done in a Vita-mix or other high-powered blender. Set aside.
In a saucepan, heat olive oil. Add onion, garlic, and celery, and cook over medium heat until translucent. Add the bay leaf, nutmeg, salt and pepper, vegetable stock, potato, and chestnut puree. Bring to a boil, and let simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf, and process in a blender, until smooth. Stir in cashew cream. Divide into bowls, and garnish with fresh thyme, and cashew cream. Enjoy!
16 Comments
Balvinder
I love Vita mix for heavy and smooth grinding. leaving potato you have added everything that i like in this soup.
Koko
I love my Vita-mix, too!! It’s the best kitchen tool I have ever bought! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Kelly @ Inspired Edibles
Heehee, smiled reading about the 2 hour cab wait. When I moved from Montreal/Toronto to Ottawa, I was shocked to discover that you couldn’t simply flag a cab in downtown Ottawa… nope, you actually have to call for one! (it requires planning ;0). Ah well, small price to pay ;and I like your happy dancing philosophy ;-).
Ok, love chestnuts so I’m totally excited about this soup – and, I had no idea I could buy chestnut puree, so I’m thrilled to discover that! Your spices sound delish KoKo but I must know how you made that gorgeous design with the cashew cream on top of your soup!!?
Koko
Whaaaat!? Planning is no fun!! We tried to flag cab after cab, and then I did try calling and got put on hold for about an hour….nothing worked!!
Yes, chestnut puree…good for this soup, and chestnut cakes, as well!
The design is super easy, Kelly. A little trick from culinary school. Just carefully spoon little dots of cream in a circle. Then, just take a toothpick, and drag it through the dots. They turn into these lovely little hearts- magic!! Great with a fruit coulis, too, on a Valentine’s dessert or something!
Jennifer
Happy New Year Koko!!
The soup looks beautiful!
Sophie
A tasty vegan festive chestnut soup! I also am in love with home-made cashew cream!! 🙂 Ooh yes!
Sophie
Georgous too!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
This is a 5-star soup! Creamy and warming. Love it.
Koko
Thanks Jennifer! Happy New Year to you, too!
Thank you Sophie! Cashew cream is the best!
Thanks Angie!
Mel
Looks beautiful!!!! Glad you had a fun new years!!! Walking always adds a little for fun to the night! 😛
Kelly @ Inspired Edibles
Thank you for the heart-shaped tip KoKo! Can’t wait to try… hope you’re feeling better soon… ;(
Scrambled Megs
this looks divine. i would like to start eating healthier meals, that are of a vegan nature. x
mimimi1
do you think that i could substitute coconut cream for the cashew cream as i dont have to make that it’s already made in a box in my cupboard? would that give it too much of a coconut taste?
Koko (kokobrill.com)
I haven’t tried it myself, but I would give it a shot! It would have a slight coconut taste but I think it might be okay. Let me know if you decide to use it!