If you’re craving a cozy, comforting bowl that warms you from the inside out, this Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe is an absolute game-changer. I love this soup because it’s rich and creamy without being heavy, and the curry cream swirl adds this fabulous layered warmth that makes each spoonful sing. When I first tried it, I was hooked — and I can’t wait to share the secret to making it perfectly every time with you today!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Comforting and Creamy: Root veggies give the soup a natural creaminess, boosted by just a touch of luscious cream.
- Simple Ingredients: It uses everyday root vegetables you can find in any market.
- A Flavor Boost with Curry: The curry cream swirl brings a gentle warmth without overpowering the veggies.
- Easy to Make: This recipe fits perfectly into your busy schedule, ready in under an hour.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe is really in how the ingredients come together — the earthiness of the root vegetables combines with fragrant curry and creamy richness for a perfect harmony. When shopping, look for fresh, firm root veggies and a curry powder you love because that flavor really shines through.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Use good quality for a subtle fruity base flavor.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps the onions soften without burning.
- Onion: Large dice lets it soften nicely without disappearing completely.
- Garlic cloves: Fresh garlic is key; it gives a nice gentle pungency.
- Curry powder: I’m partial to Clive’s, but any medium-strength curry powder works well here.
- Dried thyme leaves: Thyme adds herbal notes that balance the curry nicely.
- Water: Sounds simple, but using water rather than stock keeps flavors clean and lets the curry do its work.
- Cooking salt or kosher salt: Salt is crucial for balancing all those natural sweet and savory flavors.
- Black pepper: Freshly ground pepper adds a gentle heat layer.
- Thickened cream (heavy or regular): Just half a cup is enough to make it luxuriously smooth.
- Potato: I like a large white potato for starchiness that thickens the soup perfectly.
- Sweet potato: Offers natural sweetness and beautiful color contrast.
- Carrots: Their slight sweetness deepens the soup’s flavor.
- Parsnip: Adds a subtle earthiness with a hint of sweetness.
- Celeriac: The star root here—its unique celery-like flavor lifts the whole soup.
- Warm crusty bread: For dunking, of course!
- Parsley: Finely chopped, it brightens up the finished soup.
- Extra curry powder & black pepper (for garnish): Just a pinch to finish off with a flavorful flourish.
Variations
One of the things I adore about this Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe is how adaptable it is. You can easily tweak it to suit your pantry or dietary needs. I encourage you to experiment — that’s part of the fun, right?
- Make it vegan: I’ve swapped out the butter for extra oil and replaced the cream with coconut cream—still delicious!
- Switch up the curry powder: Try a smoky or spiced blend for different flavor profiles. I once tried a madras curry powder and it made this soup a little spicier, which the family loved.
- Seasonal vegetable swaps: If you can’t find celeriac, celery root or even celery stalks can work, though I recommend adjusting cooking times accordingly.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of chili flakes when sautéing for a gentle kick. I find this adds a nice warmth without overwhelming the soup.
How to Make Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe
Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics
Start by heating the olive oil and butter in a large, heavy-based pot over medium-high heat. Once the butter’s melted and foamy, toss in the chopped onion and garlic. Cook for around 2 minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent—this step is key as it builds the base flavor. Stir regularly here so nothing sticks or burns.
Step 2: Add the Root Veggies, Thyme & Curry Powder
Now add all your chopped root vegetables along with the dried thyme and curry powder. Keep stirring the pot frequently for about 3 minutes — this helps the curry release its aromas and the edges of the veggies start to soften. You’ll notice that fragrance filling your kitchen right here!
Step 3: Simmer Until Tender
Turn the heat up to high, add your water, salt, and black pepper. Give everything a good stir. Once the mixture comes to a rapid simmer, reduce the heat to medium-high and let it simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. You want all the vegetables completely tender — test with a knife; it should slide in easily with no resistance.
Step 4: Stir in the Cream and Blend
Turn off the heat, then stir in the thickened cream. Let the pot sit back on the heat just for about a minute so all the flavors marry beautifully. Now, grab your stick blender and blitz the soup until it’s smooth and silky. Depending on your blender’s power, this usually takes less than a minute. If it looks too thick, add a splash of water; if you want a richer soup, swirl in a bit more cream.
Step 5: Serve and Garnish
Ladle the soup into bowls, then drizzle some extra cream on top. Sprinkle a pinch of curry powder, some freshly cracked black pepper, and a scattering of finely chopped parsley. Don’t forget the warm, crusty bread for dunking — it makes the meal feel properly cozy every time.
Pro Tips for Making Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe
- Don’t Skip the Butter: The combo of olive oil and butter really deepens the flavor and helps soften the onion gently without burning.
- Use a Heavy-Based Pot: This keeps the heat even and prevents scorching, especially when simmering those starchy roots.
- Test Veggie Tenderness: Checking with a knife saves you from over or undercooking—it should glide through smoothly.
- Swirl Cream Last: Adding cream right before blending preserves its texture and avoids curdling.
How to Serve Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe
Garnishes
I always finish my bowls with a drizzle of extra cream — it feels indulgent but is just a pinch. A sprinkle of fresh parsley brightens every bite and the little dusting of curry powder on top wakes up those cozy spices beautifully. Fresh cracked black pepper gives that final hearty kick.
Side Dishes
For sides, I like serving this soup with warm crusty bread — perfect for dunking! It’s also fantastic alongside a lightly dressed green salad for a fresh contrast, or roasted chickpeas for a crunchy protein punch.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I sometimes serve this soup in mini bread bowls — it’s fun and rustic. You can also swirl the curry cream over the top with a toothpick to create a pretty marbled effect. Adding toasted pumpkin seeds or a sprinkle of finely chopped toasted nuts brings a nice texture surprise.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I like to store leftover Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. It actually tastes even better the next day once the flavors have melded. Just give it a good stir when reheating, as the cream can settle.
Freezing
Freezing works wonderfully for this soup. Spoon portions into freezer-safe containers leaving room for expansion. When thawed, it reheats gently on the stove over low heat—stir often to keep the cream from separating.
Reheating
To reheat, I warm the soup over low to medium heat on the stovetop, stirring frequently. Avoid boiling which can change the texture. If it thickens too much, I add a bit of water or stock to loosen it up while still keeping all that cozy creaminess.
FAQs
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Can I use vegetable stock instead of water for this soup?
Absolutely! While I love how clean and bright the soup tastes when made with water, using vegetable stock will add extra depth and richness. Just be sure to adjust your salt accordingly, since stock can be salty.
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What if I don’t have a stick blender?
No worries! You can use a regular blender — just be careful blending hot soup. Work in batches and vent the lid slightly to avoid steam buildup. Alternatively, a potato masher gives a chunkier, rustic texture.
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Is this soup suitable for vegans?
With a few tweaks, yes! Replace the butter with olive oil and swap heavy cream for coconut cream or a plant-based alternative. The curry powder adds so much flavor, you won’t miss the dairy at all.
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How can I make the soup more filling?
Adding a side of toasted whole-grain bread or a handful of roasted chickpeas as a topping will boost the meal’s satiety. You can also stir in cooked lentils or beans for extra protein.
Final Thoughts
This Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe has become my go-to comfort food on chilly days — it feels nourishing, yet light, and always impresses family and friends. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do because it’s one of those recipes that turns simple ingredients into something truly special. So grab your veggies, dust off that pot, and cozy up with a bowl — you’re going to love it!
Print
Root Vegetable Soup with Curry Cream Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 5 to 6 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Australian
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
This Country Harvest Root Vegetable Soup is a comforting and naturally creamy soup packed with the earthy flavors of potato, sweet potato, carrot, parsnip, and celeriac. Infused with warm curry powder and thyme, it offers a lovely depth of flavor without needing broth, relying on water and a touch of thickened cream for richness. Perfect for chilly days, this soup is simple to prepare, wholesome, and served best with crusty bread and a garnish of cream, parsley, and a sprinkle of curry powder.
Ingredients
Base
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15g) unsalted butter
- 1 large onion, chopped into large dice
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme leaves
Vegetables
- 1 large potato (~300g/10oz), peeled and cut into 2.5cm/1″ cubes
- 1 medium sweet potato (350g/12oz), peeled and cut into 2.5cm/1″ cubes
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1.5cm/0.5″ pieces
- 1 small/medium parsnip (150g/5oz), peeled and cut into 1.5cm/0.5″ pieces
- 1 small celeriac (600g/1.2 lb), peeled and cut into 1.5cm/0.5″ pieces (~2 heaped cups)
Liquids and Seasoning
- 1 1/2 litre (6 cups) water
- 2 tsp cooking salt/kosher salt (halve if using table salt)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup thickened cream (heavy cream or regular), plus extra for garnish
To Serve
- Warm crusty bread
- Parsley, finely chopped
- Pinch extra curry powder
- Pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large heavy-based pot over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, add the chopped onion and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes until the onion softens and becomes fragrant.
- Add Vegetables and Spices: Add the prepared root vegetables (potato, sweet potato, carrot, parsnip, celeriac), dried thyme, and curry powder to the pot. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring regularly, allowing the vegetables to start softening and the spices to bloom.
- Simmer Soup: Increase the heat to high, then add the water, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine, bring the mixture to a rapid simmer, then reduce heat to medium-high and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until all vegetables are tender when pierced with a knife.
- Add Cream and Heat Through: Stir in the thickened cream and continue to simmer gently for 1 more minute to incorporate the cream fully into the soup.
- Blend Until Smooth: Remove the pot from heat, then use a stick blender to puree the soup until completely smooth. Adjust seasoning by adding more salt, pepper, or water to thin if necessary. For extra richness, stir in additional cream to your taste.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with extra cream, sprinkle a pinch of curry powder, freshly ground black pepper, and chopped parsley on top. Serve immediately with warm crusty bread on the side.
Notes
- This recipe is lovingly named ‘Country Harvest’ to evoke warmth and rustic charm, though it uses store-bought root vegetables and everyday pantry ingredients.
- Root vegetables naturally thicken the soup due to their starch content, making the addition of cream a luxurious enhancement rather than a necessity.
- The soup is made using water instead of broth; curry powder adds a rich, spicy depth to compensate, making the flavor robust and satisfying.
- Adjust salt quantities based on the type of salt you use: if using table salt instead of kosher salt, reduce by half.
- Use a stick blender for convenience and control when puréeing the soup; alternatively, a countertop blender or food processor can be used in batches.
- This soup is low calorie despite its creamy texture, offering a nourishing and healthy meal option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 362 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 1140 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg