The dramatic crimson of this soup matches the deep, vibrant taste of the beets and tomatoes that fill it with flavor, not to mention nutrition.
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Both are excellent sources of Vitamin C and provide substantial amounts of other nutrients as well: beets are packed with folate (especially important for pregnant women), potassium, and manganese, while tomatoes are full of vitamins A and K, and also add even more potassium to the mix.
And this is without even mentioning the antioxidants in the vegetables: the visually striking red of both vegetables actually comes from their high antioxidant content.
Beets can be a little intimidating to cook with, but a few tricks will make it a lot easier. A pair of rubber gloves will prevent the red pigment from staining your hands, and an apron or an old shirt is a wise decision.
Many people’s first instinct is to peel the beets before boiling them, but if you wait, they’re actually easier to peel: you can just wrap each beet in a paper towel and rub them around a bit, and the peel will come right off without wasting any of the beets underneath.
Adding even more beauty to the visual presentation of this dish is a swirl of coconut milk and a few sprigs of fresh parsley – if you’re hunting for a beautiful, seasonal dish to serve at Christmas time, this would be a perfect choice.
But even in August, this soup is a visually striking addition to the menu, and with tomatoes and beets both in season, it’s a wonderful way to appreciate the late-summer vegetable bounty from your garden, CSA basket, or grocery store.
Beet and Tomato Soup Recipe
SERVES: 6 PREP: 1h COOK: 30 min
Ingredients
- 1 lb. beets;
- 3 big tomatoes, chopped;
- 4 medium green onions, thinly sliced;
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil;
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock;
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste;
- 1 tsp. ground cumin, plus more for garnish;
- 6 tbsp. coconut milk for garnishing;
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnishing;
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste;
Preparation
- In a large saucepan, cover the beets with water (leave the skin on). Bring to a boil and cook 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until tender, over medium-high heat.
- Drain the beets. Peel them, and chop them coarsely.
- In the same saucepan, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the green onions, and cook until softened (about 5 min).
- Add the tomatoes and beets, and season to taste. Cook, frequently stirring, for about 5 min.
- Add the cumin. Stir and cook for about 1 minute. Then add the vegetable or chicken stock and the tomato paste, and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat. Cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
- Puree the soup in a food processor or blender (you can do this in batches if your processor isn't big enough to handle it all at once).
- Re-warm the soup and season it to taste.
- Pour the soup into bowls and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of coconut milk, cumin, and fresh parsley.
📖 Recipe
Beet and Tomato Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. beets
- 3 big tomatoes chopped
- 4 medium green onions thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 tsp. ground cumin plus more for garnish
- 6 tbsp. coconut milk for garnishing
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnishing
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, cover the beets with water (leave the skin on). Bring to a boil and cook 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until tender, over medium-high heat.1 lb. beets
- Drain the beets. Peel them, and chop them coarsely.
- In the same saucepan, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the green onions, and cook until softened (about 5 min).3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 4 medium green onions
- Add the tomatoes and beets, and season to taste. Cook, frequently stirring, for about 5 min.3 big tomatoes, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Add the cumin. Stir and cook for about 1 minute. Then add the vegetable or chicken stock and the tomato paste, and bring to a boil.4 cups vegetable or chicken stock, 1 tsp. ground cumin, 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- Lower the heat. Cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
- Puree the soup in a food processor or blender (you can do this in batches if your processor isn’t big enough to handle it all at once).
- Re-warm the soup and season it to taste.
- Pour the soup into bowls and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of coconut milk, cumin, and fresh parsley.6 tbsp. coconut milk for garnishing, Chopped fresh parsley for garnishing
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