Laura's Carrot Soup

The recipe for a rich-tasting but still low-calorie soup, comfort food during the cold months with possible medicinal qualities! Just one Weight Watchers point per cup.

Carrot Soup: smooth, flavorful and just maybe medicinal too

The 'Laura' in LAURA’S CARROT SOUP is my cousin, mom to four energetic kids and a long-time vegetarian. She cooks meat for her family but often slips in meatless soups, stews and main dishes.

This smooth, flavorful carrot soup is a family favorite. Some swear by its medicinal facilities too. In my book, it tastes as good as chicken soup when you’re down with a cold or the flu. On a damp or chilly day, add a small sandwich for a light, healthful lunch.

ALANNA's TIPS The soup will turn out a bit creamier and sweeter if you peel and chop whole carrots. However, the grocery-store bags of peeled carrots are so convenient, don’t hesitate to use them in a rush. For a godsend some future busy day, freeze a batch now but plan to add the milk just before serving for this saves freezer room and prevents the milk and carrot mixture from separating. For richer versions, use 2% or even whole milk.
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LAURA’S RECIPE for
CARROT SOUP

Hands-on time: 25 minutes
Stovetop time: 30 – 40 minutes
Makes 9 cups
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 onion, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
  • 1 rib celery, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • 1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 1 large potato, skin on, chopped
  • 4 cups hot water
  • 4 teaspoons instant bouillon (or 1 bouillon cube)
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground dill
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1-1/2 cups skim milk

Sauté garlic, onion and celery in butter until tender in a Dutch oven. Add remaining ingredients except milk. Bring to a boil and cook until carrots are tender, 30 – 40 minutes.

Purée in small batches in a blender or food processor. Return mixture to the cooking pan. Add milk, heat through and serve immediately.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE (How many calories in carrot soup? How many Weight Watchers points in carrot soup?) Per Cup: 87 Calories; 3g Protein; 3g Tot Fat; 2g Sat Fat; 12g Carb; 3g Fiber; 669mg Sodium; 9mg Cholesterol; Weight Watchers 1 point

LATER NOTES
This soup tastes much richer than it is, almost too rich if you're looking for a light soup. You could easily drop back to just one tablespoon of butter or use a smaller potato, since both contribute to creaminess.
Yes, the color really is that orange! Halloween, anyone?!
I've become addicted to serving soups with hearty bread 'toasted' in the skillet. Just brush a thin slice of good bread with a little olive oil (a silicone brush makes this easy) and let brown for a few minutes a side in a hot skillet. Watch carefully, it goes from brown to burn, fast. It's so good that I've included the 'recipe' in Fried Bread.

More Vegetable Soup Recipes

(hover for a description, click a photo for a recipe)
Very Very Green Green-Pea Soup Quick Cauliflower (or Broccoli) Soup Low Fat Vegetable Soup
~ more soup recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

~ 15-Bean Soup ~
~ Oven-Cooked Lentil Soup ~
~ Quick Green Chile Stew ~
~ more soup recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture, my food blog

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Your Comments:

Made this recipe this week and it turned out to be the best-smellin', best-tastin' soup I've made in a long time!

http://twolittlevikings.blogspot.com/2008/10/two-new-recipes.html
 
I used my faithful pressure cooker and it cut down the cooking time by far:-)
 
Was so impressed2 weeks ago, that I'm just about to make a double batch to take to church tonight! Wish me luck! *wink*
 
I've made this soup twice in the last couple of weeks and love it! Found it a bit salty the first time, so left out the salt the next.
 
MMMMMmmmm. I thought this weight watchers diet would be hard, but if the other recipes are as delicious as this, I'm all set! I don't even usually like cooked carrots- or soup for that matter!- and I found this recipe amazing!!