Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup - Once Upon a Chef (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.

With carrots, sweet potatoes and apples, this savory soup with a hint of sweetness is the essence of fall.

Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup - Once Upon a Chef (1)

Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018)

It seems I’ve always got the components of this soup lingering in my veggie bin (along with other mysterious things, but I’ll spare you those details), so it’s easy to whip up on a cool fall day. The nice thing is that the sweet potatoes add body to the soup, making it luxuriously silky, without even the slightest bit of guilt-inducing heavy cream.

Now, I have to admit that I’m not one of those people who look forward to fall; my pessimistic side knows all too well that winter is looming. But the thought of comfort food and cozy clothes does make it more bearable. So go ahead and think of this dish as that soft knit sweater you can’t wait to put on at the first sign of a chill. Pair the soup with crusty artisan bread, challah, or dinner rolls.

Table of Contents

  • About Sweet Potatoes
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • You May Also Like
  • Printable Recipe
  • Reviews

“Absolutely scrumptious! My husband is still talking about how delicious dinner was last night!”

About Sweet Potatoes

Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup - Once Upon a Chef (2)

Before we get started, let’s talk about sweet potatoes. It’s common practice in the U.S. to use the words “sweet potato” and “yam” interchangeably. This is confusing since yams aren’t sweet potatoes at all, but rather thick white tubers with dark brown skin. But chances are you won’t find real yams at the supermarket, so if you see “yams,” you’re probably looking at sweet potatoes. As for the different varieties, look for Garnet, Jewel, Beauregard, all of which have orange flesh and reddish-brown skin and are delicious in sweet potato pie, mashed sweet potatoes, and sweet potato casserole.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by cooking the onions in butter until they are soft and translucent. Then, add the curry powder and cook until fragrant.

Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, and chicken broth and bring to a boil.

Cover and simmer over low heat until the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes, then toss in the chopped apples.

Purée with a stick blender until smooth and creamy.

Enjoy!

Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup - Once Upon a Chef (7)

You May Also Like

  • Recipe
  • Comments (588)
  • Add Comment

Print

Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

Metric Cup Measures

By Jenn Segal

With carrots, sweet potatoes and apples, this savory soup with a hint of sweetness is the essence of fall.

Servings: 8

Total Time: 45 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder, plus a bit more for serving
  • 1 pound carrots, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1½ pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 small), peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 8 cups chicken broth, best quality such as Swanson
  • 1¾ teaspoons salt
  • 1 tart yet sweet apple (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji), peeled and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Do not brown. Add the curry powder and cook a minute more.
  2. Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, chicken broth and salt and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat until vegetables are very tender, about 25 minutes. Stir in the apples and honey. Using a stick blender, puree the soup until smooth and creamy. (Alternatively, cool the soup slightly, then puree in a blender in batches. Be sure to leave the hole in the lid open, and cover with a kitchen towel, to allow the steam to escape.) Season to taste with salt, pepper and more honey if necessary. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with more curry powder if desired. (Note: As the soup sits, it will thicken up so you may need to add a bit of water to thin it out.)
  3. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot.

Pair with

  • Southern-Style Buttermilk Biscuits
  • Kale, Apple and Pancetta Salad

Nutrition Information

Powered by Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup - Once Upon a Chef (14)

  • Per serving (8 servings)
  • Serving size: 1 1/3 cups
  • Calories: 277
  • Fat: 9g
  • Saturated fat: 4g
  • Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Sugar: 18g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Sodium: 941mg
  • Cholesterol: 22mg

Nutritional Data Disclaimer

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.

See more recipes:

  • Freezer-Friendly
  • Gluten-Free Adaptable
  • Holidays
  • Make-Ahead
  • Most Popular
  • Soups
  • American

Comments

  • This is a delicious soup, instead of 6 cups chicken stock I used 4 cups chicken stock and 2 cups coconut milk, I also added 1 teaspoon of Graham masala for extra flavor.

    • — Marianne on March 22, 2024
    • Reply
  • I loved the spices in the squash soup recipe.Do you think it would work using those spices in the carrot soup?

    • — Eleanor on February 20, 2024
    • Reply
    • Sure, Eleanor, I think it’s worth trying (although there aren’t a lot of differences between the two in terms of seasoning).

      • — Jenn on February 20, 2024
      • Reply
  • yum! Made it for the first time and love it. Shared some with my neighbor and he give it two thumbs up as well.

    • — GeorgiaPeachy on February 17, 2024
    • Reply
  • Ridiculous, gets better with each day!

    • — Ellen on February 12, 2024
    • Reply
  • delicious

    • — Weather Forecast on January 11, 2024
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn, making this soup now for 2nd time. Have a friend who is vegetarian and gluten free. Can you suggest any type of bread to go with this? She is in the hospital coming home soon, elderly.
    Thanks, Rose

    • — Rose Kidd on January 4, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Rose, that’s nice that you’re preparing this for her arrival home. Unfortunately, I don’t have any gluten-free bread recipes. You could take a peek at some of the gluten-free recipes here (I really trust King Arthur’s recipes). Although I haven’t made either one, both the biscuits and dinner rolls look promising. Hope you find something that works. 😊

      • — Jenn on January 4, 2024
      • Reply
  • I love this soup. Thanks for sharing!

    • — Neny on December 29, 2023
    • Reply
  • Amazing soup and so very easy to make with ingredients I usually have on hand.

    • — Lori Jones on December 28, 2023
    • Reply
  • Jenn, this soup is like a warm hug. Incredible!!!

    Happy Holidays, Rose

    • — Rose Kidd on December 22, 2023
    • Reply
  • Great soup

    • — Jim on December 15, 2023
    • Reply
  • love this soup, lost recipe, so glad to find it online again

    • — Tisha Barber on November 9, 2023
    • Reply
  • Can I substitute the curry for another spice? If so, what would you suggest?
    Thanks!

    • — Michelle on November 5, 2023
    • Reply
    • Sure Michelle – any warm spice or blend of warm spices would be nice here (garam masala, cinnamon, cumin, etc) or you could add herbs like thyme or rosemary. Hope that helps!

      • — Jenn on November 6, 2023
      • Reply

Load More

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup - Once Upon a Chef (2024)

FAQs

How to make carrot soup less sweet? ›

Neutralize the sweetness by using one or more simple techniques. Add 1 tbsp. of lemon juice or cider vinegar per quart of soup. Stir well and allow to simmer for two to three minutes.

How long do sweet potatoes last? ›

How long sweet potatoes last in normal room temperature depends on many factors, and it's best to keep them in a pantry to last 3–5 weeks. You can also store sweet potatoes in the fridge for 2–3 months, or freeze them to last even longer.

What to eat with sweet potato bisque? ›

Sweet Potato Soup Serving Suggestions

Garnish it with a swirl of coconut milk, fresh cilantro, Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes, and pepitas for crunch. I often eat the soup as a meal on its own (with a thick slice of crusty bread, of course!), but it's also fantastic with a salad or roasted vegetables on the side.

Which potatoes hold up best in soup? ›

Potatoes that are low-starch and high-moisture hold together better. Yukon Gold potatoes are on the medium-starch side and will hold their shape in soups. Red potatoes fall into the low-starch category, as do smaller, newer potatoes. Fingerling potatoes will do well in soups, as will long white potatoes.

Why should peeled potatoes be soaked in water? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes.

Why is my carrot soup bland? ›

Why is my carrot soup bland? You may need to add more salt and pepper. I like to taste the soup along the way, and if it needs some salt or pepper, I'll add it. Don't be shy!

Why is my carrot soup gritty? ›

To achieve a silky-smooth texture, keep the blender running for at least 1 to 2 minutes in order to fully break down the solids. A common mistake is to not run the blender long enough. This results in a grainy-textured soup. The soup should be blended long enough to create a silky-smooth texture.

Why is my carrot soup bitter? ›

Carrot soup can be bitter due to the carrot being overcooked for too long. You can also add more carrot to it, a little bit of sweetener such as maple syrup, use vegetable stock in place of chicken stock and add some coconut milk (if vegan).

When not to eat sweet potatoes? ›

How to tell if sweet potatoes have gone bad. If your sweet potato is soft in spots, smells rotten, or oozes a mysterious liquid, that potato should be discarded. Another sign that sweet potatoes have taken a turn for the worse is if they start growing stalky purplish sprouts.

Can you eat sweet potato left out all night? ›

Once they've been cooked, however, they should go in a shallow airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge. They'll stay good there for about five days. Tip: You shouldn't leave cooked sweet potatoes at room temperature for more than two hours, as this can promote bacteria growth and cause foodborne illness.

Can you eat old sweet potatoes? ›

Is it soft, wet, oozing, squishy, discolored, or sprouting? If yes to any, then toss it! If the sweet potato is firm and not sprouting, it's still fresh and safe to eat. If it's firm with only a few sprouts, you can cut the sprouted area off, then cook and eat immediately.

Should you peel sweet potatoes? ›

Yes, you can eat sweet potato skin, whether it's an orange, white or purple sweet potato. So the next time you make sweet potatoes, try keeping the skin on. Not only will it save you prep time and add a textural component to the dish, but there are also nutritional benefits to leaving the peel on.

Can dogs eat sweet potatoes? ›

How to Safely Feed Sweet Potatoes to Your Dog. Whether they're mashed, baked, or boiled, sweet potatoes are fine for dogs to eat as long as they're cooked, peeled, and plain. Again, avoid any seasonings or extra ingredients that may be included in “human food” recipes, such as butter, sugar, or salt.

What makes a dish a bisque? ›

Bisque is a smooth, creamy, highly seasoned soup of French origin, classically based on a strained broth (coulis) of crustaceans. It can be made from lobster, langoustine, crab, shrimp, or crayfish. The French bisque is one of the most popular seafood soups around the world.

Can you leave the skin on when making potato soup? ›

Potatoes do have a flavour of their own, and it's strongest in the skins, so it makes sense to leave these on, and saves time.

How do you keep potatoes from getting mushy in potato soup? ›

Cut the potatoes into rissolettes and blanche them (i.e. cook them briefly, not to full doneness). Use the water you used in the soup and put the potatoes back in when you go to warm the soup again for serving. Since they're cut fairly small, they should be just about done without being mushy when you go to eat.

Are potato peels good for soup stock? ›

Save those vegetables that may have lost their crunchy appeal for a flavorful veggie stock. Even if stored properly, celery and carrots may become floppy after some time, but don't let them go to the compost. Throw in your onion skins, potato peels, and other veggie scraps from cooking to add more flavor to the mix!

Why aren't my potatoes getting soft in my potato soup? ›

If your potato soup is still crunchy after cooking for 6 to 7 hours on high in the crockpot, it's likely that the potatoes were not cooked long enough or the crockpot may not have reached a high enough temperature.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6474

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.