Ginger carrot soup is a type of carrot soup with a strong ginger taste. Aromatic and brightly colored, ginger carrot soup can be vegan, vegetarian, or neither. It is a spicy, yet sweet, vegetable soup that can be served as an appetizer or main dish.
No matter the recipe, ginger carrot soup always contains ginger, carrots, and a broth. Most recipes require fresh ginger, which can be found in the produce section of many grocery stores. Depending on whether the recipe is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, the type of broth used will usually be vegetable or chicken. Both the ginger root and the carrots should be peeled before placing in the soup. Carrots can be peeled using a knife or a traditional potato peeler, but ginger, because of its odd shape, is normally best peeled using the edge of a spoon.
Onions, either diced or chopped, are almost always present in recipes, though they can be replaced by leaks. Normally sautéed, some recipes call for the onions to be caramelized. When working with a recipe that requires caramelized onions, sugar will always be required and therefore may be less healthy than a recipe which only requires sautéed onions. The onions are usually sautéed in olive or vegetable oil, though some recipes call for butter. The oil is usually the healthier alternative.
Other ingredients may include sweet potatoes, orange juice, nutmeg, or garlic. Various spices, such as curry and coriander, are sometime used as well. This soup is often garnished, meaning a decorative edible element is added to the top of a dish before serving for taste and visual appeal. Garnish can be sour cream, sweet cream, chives, parsley, garlic, yogurt, or shaved ginger.
Nearly all recipes require the soup to be put through a blender or food processor to thoroughly purée the ingredients before eating. The soup can be served immediately, refrigerated and heated up later, or frozen for future use. It usually heats up well even after several weeks in the freezer.
Although some recipes are healthier than others, ginger carrot soup is a generally healthy food and, when prepared in certain ways, can be an extremely healthy option. Carrots not only satisfy the daily vegetable requirement, but promote eye and heart health. They also increase bone, skin, and hair health. Ginger is a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, though its primary medicinal use is to ease stomach pain or nausea. For this reason, ginger carrot soup is often used to soothe upset stomach.