Carrot Soup with Kalamata Olive Paste

On a chilly Sunday in Athens, I cooked with what was left in the fridge. That turned out to be a bunch of carrots, a little ginger, and a dollop of Kalamata olive paste. You can make your own olive paste by pureeing authentic greek Kalamata olives. The sweetness of the soup balancesbeautifully with the rich, earthy, tangy flavor of the olives. To purchase the olive oil and olives needed for this recipe go to my online store here.

RATING

SERVES

PREP TIME

10 min

COOK TIME

50 min

RECIPES

Soups

Vegan

Vegetables

Vegetarian

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Ingredients

10 carrots
1 one-inch knob of ginger
1 large red onion
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup extra virgin Greek olive oil
1 heaping teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cumin
6 – 8 cups water
1/3 cup rice
Salt to taste
2 – 3 tablespoons sweet Greek vinegar or good balsamic
A few drops of Habanero or Chipotle Tabasco to taste
6 teaspoons Kalamata olive paste preferably from Peloponnese, because it isn’t too salty
Olive oil for garnish
One jar of Greek salad in a jar I used Peloponnese, again because it was flavorful without being salty
Pinch of dried Greek oregano

Instructions

1. Peel and chop the carrots and ginger and chop the onions and garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large, wide pot and add the carrots, ginger, onions, and garlic. Cover the pot, keep the heat on low, and let the vegetables cook without water for a few minutes, steaming in their own moisture. Stir in the spices and toss all together for a minute.
2. Add the water to the pot. Add the rice. Season with salt. Cover, raise heat to bring the soup to a boil then lower it again, simmer for about 45 minutes, or until all the vegetables are extremely soft.
3. Use an immersion blender or empty the soup into the bowl of a food processor and process until very smooth. Return to the pot if using a food processor. Adjust the consistency with a little water and adjust the spices to taste. Reheat for a few minutes, and add enough vinegar to balance the soup. Stir in the hot sauce, if using.
4. Serve the soup in individual bowls, spooning in a little of the olive paste and drizzling in Greek extra virgin olive oil. Drain the Greek salad and place in a small bowl. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and a little oregano over it, and Voila, lunch is ready.