Heirloom Carrot, Sweet Potato and Ginger Bisque

It all started with a bunch of rainbow heirloom carrots I snatched up at Trader Joes. I mean I literally snatched up the last doggone bunch! The feeling of joy. Excitement. Happiness. To me it was like winning the freaken lottery or something. Immediately, notions of roasting those babies with warm spices and pureeing them into a comforting pot of soup raced through my head. Is this going to be a perfect Saturday or what?!

You might say – come on – get a grip on it – it’s just a bunch of carrots. Not so. Do you have any idea the blood, sweat and tears that farmer went through growing those carrots? It’s true. Heirloom carrots come from seeds that are at least 50 years old. Those seeds were handpicked by that farmer for specific traits. And heirlooms are much harder to grow which is why you rarely see them at the supermarket.

Carrots 101

In ancient times all carrots were white and grown for their leaves and seeds – much like parsley, dill and coriander are. They contain 32,000 different genes and two recessive ones contributed to a build up of carotinoids. It is believed that early farmers grew colorful carrots quite unintentionally.

All carrots are extremely nutrient dense with each color having a different nutritional profile. Orange carrots are so brightly colored because they have the highest amount of carotenoids. Red carrots get their color from high amounts of lycopene. Yellow carrots get their color from high amounts of lutein. Purple carrots get their color from high levels of anthrocyanin. White carrots are albino and not a source of carotine but contain high amounts of polyacetylenes which is an organic anti-cancer compound.

Daily consumption of potassium and sodium rich carrots can prevent plaque build up in the arteries (don’t confuse the sodium found naturally in whole foods with table salt). With their high content of carotenoids, vitamin A and C, and polyphenols, carrots help regulate cholesterol. Studies show a direct link between carrot intake and reduced risk of prostate cancer and the polyacetylenes found in carrots protect against leukemia and colorectal cancer.

Ingredients

• 1 large bunch of heirloom carrot (tops removed)
• 3 sweet potatoes (peeled and cut in pieces)
• 4-5 garlic cloves
• 1 large sweet onion chopped
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 3 tbsps. peeled and chopped fresh ginger
• 2 cups unsweetened plant based milk
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsps garlic powder
• 3 tsps Italian seasoning
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp rosemary
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1tsp ground cayenne pepper
• Red pepper flakes(garnish)

Instructions

1. Place carrots, sweet potatoes and garlic on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Spritz with water. Season with garlic powder, cinnamon, rosemary, paprika and ginger. Roast in oven set at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.
2. Put onions, celery, ginger, plant based milk, vinegar and cayenne pepper in a large pot and cook on medium heat stirring intermittently until vegetables are soft.
3. Add the roasted vegetables and broth bringing to a boil then simmer for 30 minutes stirring intermittently.
4. Remove from heat then puree with an immersion or high speed blender. Adjust spices as needed.
5. Garnish with red pepper flakes.