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Introduction to Purple Sweet Potato Soup
Okinawan sweet potatoes or the purple sweet potatoes are a type of sweet potato that has a rather enticing purple hue. They are potatoes from Pacific Islands which have been adopted into different diets in different parts of the world. Those that occur in their natural habitat are due to anthocyanins which are very rich in antioxidants which are really essential to the body because they ease inflammation as well as good for hearts.
Moreover, it is very filling and, therefore, Purple Sweet Potato Soup can perfectly complement a cup of coffee or tea, be it a light lunch or the first course of several dishes’ dinner. For this reason, it has a creamy smooth texture and much the same caramelized nutty flavor which makes it suitable to be consumed during cold weather. This soup is also very effective for a purpose of boosting the level of intakes of vegetables especially for diets that may not include animal meat products as the preparation of the soup can be done with or without incorporation of such products depending on the clients’ requirements.
Ingredients for Recipe #01
Let’s dive into the ingredients of Sweet Purple Potato Soup:
Ingredients:
- 4 peeled and cubed, medium purple sweet potatoes,
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 cups of vegetable broth (or chicken broth for a non-vegetarian version)
- 1 can of coconut milk (about 14 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice (optional)
These ingredients are not difficult to come by at all and the taste that you get from this combination is simply outstanding. This is mixed with coconut milk which makes it creamy to the dish which contains spices like cumin and coriander to give a warm taste to the naturally very sweet tasting dish from purple sweet potatoes.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Purple Sweet Potato Soup
Since you have the necessary ingredients let us have a go with the cooking process! Follow these simple steps to make your Purple Sweet Potato Soup:
Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables
To begin with, clean the purple sweet potatoes and remove the skin and then proceed with chopping them into equal portions. If the cubes are small then it will be done in a short time span as compared to the large cubes. Secondly, it is necessary to chop onions into rather small portions, and to peel the garlic heads and chop them into small pieces as well.
Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics
For making the sauce, the preparation will need a large pot which is placed on the medium fire then you will introduce the olive oil. The chopped onion should then be added to the food; fry the onions until the onion is raw and transparent, this takes about 5 minutes. Put minced garlic, cumin and coriander and then fry for a further 2 minutes so that you can tell you are cooking spices.
Step 3: Cook the Sweet Potatoes
You can now add more cubed purple sweet potatoes to the pot making sure that you have blended the spices and onions on the bottom well. This additional vegetable broth should be poured into the pot also ensuring that the sweet potatoes are well submerged. The mixture after blending is boiled after which the flame is reduced to a very low level. Put the lid and let it cook for approximately twenty minutes or until the sweet potatoes become soft.
Step 4: Blend the Soup
Once the sweet potatoes are soft, you should remove them from heat. All in all, before serving the soup, use an immersion blender in order to make it smooth and cream like. If you lack an immersion blender you should attempt to add this soup to a conventional blender and then blend it in portions using the Puree option. Return the mixture of the puree and add broth to the pot.
Step 5: Add the Coconut Milk
Add coconut milk and mix the milk well in the soup so that it is well combined. If the soup is too thick then you can add a little more broth or water to get the thickness you desire. Finally, add salt and pepper to the soup according to your taste bud.
Step 6: Simmer and Serve
Return the pot to low heat and let the soup sit for another five minutes to let the flavors combine. Lastly, about half a minute before the preparation of the soup is completed, a little amount of lime juice has to be used to enhance the existing flavors. To serve, bowl the soup and add garnishing with fresh cilantro or parsley.
Variations and Substitutions
Me, Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back. This is how I want the audience to dress. Here are a few variations and substitutions you can try:
1. Vegan-Friendly Version:
If you’d like to make the soup totally vegan try to make sure you are using vegetable stock. It is also possible to replace the coconut milk with almond milk or cashew cream to get a different taste.
2. Spiced-Up Version:
For those of you who love spicy just a little sprinkle of Cayenne pepper or a chopped chili pepper mixed with the onions and garlic when sautéeing. This will add some spiciness to the soup as they will balance the sweetness of the potatoes very well.
3. Protein-Packed Version:
For a thicker soup you may also add cooked chickpeas or lentils before blending the soup. It’s also going to add to the protein level in the dish. It will give a dish a bit of a nutty flavor.
4. Herb-Infused Version:
It is advisable to combine the soup with other herbs such that it also gives it a different flavor. Other ingredients such as thyme, rosemary or basil ought to be added into the soup to enhance the flavors of the soup.
5. Dairy-Free Version:
If you are excluding coconut milk, there is a dairy cream substitute you can use which includes oat cream or soy cream. These options will also continue to give the dish a creamy placement without giving that same coconut taste.
Tips for Serving and Storing the Soup
To make the most of your Purple Sweet Potato Soup, here are some tips for serving and storing:
Serving Tips:
- Garnishes: For more enhancement of the texture of the soup you can sprinkle over nuts or seeds, or even a few drops of olive oil.
- Accompaniments: This soup on its own can be accompanied by toast and butter or a salad or even a simple grilled cheese sandwich for a complete meal to be made out of it.
- Presentation: To add artistic touch to your soup you can at long last ‘twirl’ some coconut milk or cream on the soup before you serve it. It is also possible to add more elegance by putting little enhancements like flowers or colors which can be eaten such as microgreens.
Storing Tips:
- Refrigeration: As for the remaining soup, it should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator not longer than 4 days. Sometimes when reheating one might need to add a little broth or water depending on the thickness preferred.
- Freezing: Purple sweet potato soup can be easily stored in the refrigerator and can be frozen with little effect on the taste and quality. Always ensure that the soup cools to room temperature before placing it in the freezer meals’ containers. This may be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. For serving, refrigerate the soup until frozen and then, transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw during the following day before reheating, in a pot, over low heat.
- Reheating: Place the soup on low heat and warm it up so that all the ingredients simmer; stir occasionally. Do not let the soup come to a boil as you find that the coconut milk will curdle.
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Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Purple Sweet Potato Soup is a delicious meal that takes its color from delicious healthy purple sweet potato added with the luxury of coconut milk. This is a basic recipe that can be fixed to fit different tastes and one can customize it for lovers’ dinner, breakfast, lunch or supper. This soup is best served as a first course, or as this is, since in terms of color and flavor, it will be a splendid one course meal.
FAQs
1. Can I use regular sweet potatoes instead of purple sweet potatoes?
But as you will remember it’s not going to look like a soup with green color and different flavor. Normal sweet potatoes taste Sweeter and are much orange in color as compared to the purple skin. Sweet potatoes have got an earthy flavor and a very purple color.
2. Is Purple Sweet Potato Soup suitable for freezing?
Of course, Purple Sweet Potato Soup can be frozen. It is preferred to let the soup reach room temperature after preparing it and then proceed to portion it into freezer bags. The remaining portion of the marinade may be frozen and used within the next three months. For serving the soup, store them in an airtight container and freeze them in the refrigerator for several hours until required; then, gently warm them over the stove.
