The humble carrot makes an amazing soup – especially when you sneak bacon in! Carrot Soup is quick and easy, keeps well for days, freezes brilliantly, and the only thing it needs is hot crusty bread for dunking. It’s thick and creamy, savoury and sweet – and I love the colour!
When the end of the week rolls round and the cupboards are pretty bare, I can still bank on having carrots, onion and garlic. And there are a handful of terrific meals that I can think of making with these 3 things – Carrot Pilaf, sautéed carrot in garlic butter tossed through pasta, a golden fluffy omelette stuffed with buttery julienned carrots, and this carrot soup.
Though this soup does have a wee bit more in it than just carrots, onion and garlic, they are mostly pantry essentials with the “other” things being optional.
Like – bacon. 🙂 Crisp up some bacon in the pot before adding all the carrot soup stuff, and it makes the most amazing flavour base ever. It really takes the humble carrot soup to another level.
So I’m really hoping you have some bacon stashed away in the freezer (and if not – why not?!😉)
Carrot Soup looks pretty much like Pumpkin Soup. In fact, you could interchange the two photos and I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference (errr, well except for the fact that I took those photos so I know which is which 😂)
There are also similarities in the flavour. Naturally sweet with undertones of savoury, and the same thick, creamy texture – even if you don’t use cream.
I do use cream in this recipe – but it’s optional. It adds an extra touch of richness that can be substituted with a dollop of butter – or left out.
When I’m trying to be “healthy”, I leave the cream out of the soup then drizzle just 1 teaspoon on the surface. It tricks my simple mind into thinking there’s more cream in it than there actually is! – Nagi x
Carrot soup is incredibly delicious - sweet, savoury and creamy. And I LOVE the colour! The bacon makes a terrific flavour base here, but you can skip it (Note 1). Recipe video below.
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 4 slices streaky bacon (~120g/4oz)
- 1 onion , chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 5 large carrots , cut into 1.5 cm / 3/5" chunks
- 1 litre / 1 quart vegetable or chicken broth (4 cups)
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml cream
- 3/4 cup / 185ml milk (any fat %)
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh thyme or chopped parsley
- Cream , for swirling
- Crusty bread
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Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until golden. Remove from pot, cool then chop.
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Add onion and garlic into the bacon drippings. Cook for 2 minutes until onion is translucent but not browned.
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Add carrots and stir well to coat the carrot in the oil.
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Add broth, then stir. Cover with lid, adjust heat so it is simmering energetically (about medium). Cook for 20 - 25 minutes until carrot is very soft.
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Remove lid, turn heat off. Use a stick blender to puree the carrot (or cool slightly and do in blender).
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Add cream, milk, salt and pepper to taste. Stir. Adjust thickness with milk (or water), if desired.
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Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with swirls of cream, bacon and parsley or thyme if desired. Serve with crusty bread.
1. If you skip the bacon, I would suggest adding something else to compensate for loss of flavour. Suggestions: 1 tsp of ground coriander or other spice of choice (stir into soup) or 2 tsp finely chopped ginger (saute with onion and garlic).
2. Nutrition per serving, assuming 4 servings. If you skip the bacon, it reduces to 200 calories. If you also skip the cream, it reduces to 99 calories.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
LIFE OF DOZER
Enjoying the warmth of the winter sun….
Definitely enjoyed the carrot soup, showed a friend the recipe and we both want to know what cheese is on the bread, looks like the final delicious step.
Delicious!
I didn’t add the cream as I started my diet today (booooo!) but it still hit the spot. Tasty and filling.
Carrot soup isn’t really something I’d normally choose (not when pie and curry and stews exist!) but I’m glad I made it, and will definitely again.
AND Carrot Soup is something lower cal than pies and curries and stews!!! 😂 N xx
Hi Nagi,
Dozer dozing – what a great pic. Must be tired after all the Jenga!
We eat carrot soup chilled in the summer. Never tried it with bacon. I bet it smells really good cooking in the bacon base. Must try.
He was feeling so left out, it was so funny! Kept nudging everyone but no one would give him attention while we were playing!!
Poor baby! Maybe you can get Dozer one of those Jumbo Jengas. We made one to play with at picnics and tailgates. Lots of fun – and Dozer-sized!
Jumbo Jenga! Sounds like something more up MY alley – I have the worst fumble fingers!!
Yes, Jumbo Jenga is a lot of fun. Unless you play with my son – he’s ALWAYS pulling the very bottom boards. Maybe Dozer would like to be in Kevin’s team. Heehee.
I saw that you are planning to post the recipe for Dozer’s birthday cake. I’m looking forward to seeing that one.
Ba ha ha! Sounds like they’d be a match!
Yes!! Carrot soup IS amazing and bacon makes it super amazing 🙂 It is right up there with butternut squash soup and creamy tomato soup. All amazing, soul-warming soups.
yes yes YES!!
I have subscribed to your site and asked for the free cookbooks 4 times, including today and I have no response.
I check my spam folder several times every day,
Malcolm Reding
Hi Malcolm! Responded to your earlier comment below, links are in every email I send out as well! 🙂
Nagio; I get your recipes every day, but I have requested the free cookbooks at least 6 times with no response.
Love the recipe…but the picture of Dozer’s birthday – my idea of heaven; then you put another pic up of him dozing in the sun. Gorgeous way to start the day.
And this message just made MY day! 🙂 N x
You make every day special x
Hi Nagi we are supposed to be having summer in Toronto Canada 😈 has not shown up yet..Any way I will make your carrot soup but serve it chilled instead..
Hey Dozer..what sort of birthday cake did your mom bake for you. .would you care to share the recipe xo from Luca and Gillian
I would be delighted to share the recipe! I’ll post it soon or send it to you by email 🙂 N x
you’ve made my mouth water again! I usually make carrot soup in the winter (it was 96 degrees here on Monday), and I put 3 or 4 thyme sprigs in while the veggies are cooking and remove the sprigs before whizzing. Great flavor additive! Otherwise, it’s just like your recipe!
Don’t rub it in, it’s sooo cold over here! I finally pulled my heater out!
Nagii is ther anything to substitute for bacon?coz we don’t eat pork.
Hi Shaki! Can you do turkey bacon? Otherwise I would sprinkle the finished soup with fried shallots or fried garlic, the crispy salty garnishes sold in the Asian section of supermarkets. Or CROUTONS! N x
Scrummy recepies, love to try them.
Thank you Trevor! Hope you do get a chance to try them! 🙂 N xx
Soup looks yummy, and easy to prepare.
Cute pictures of Dozer’s party, and his recovering from to excitement.
Ba ha ha! That’s exactly it – post party exhaustion! N xx
I have requested your cookbooks at least 3 times with no response!!
All you have to do is sign up for the emails. It is sent right to the email you sign up with. Check your spam.
Thank you Bailey 🙂 N xx
Hi Malcolm – the links to download them are in every new recipe email I send out. Just scroll down. 🙂
I made this for dinner tonight! Great hit with my husband who asked for 2nd serving and my boy whom hates vegetable to start with. I even secretly kept a portion for tomorrow’s lunch. Love that it’s simple yet delicious!
WHHATT?? You made this already? That’s so fast! So glad you enjoyed it Emily! N xx