Spicy Carrot and Ginger Soup (Wolfgang Puck)
The Tease
This soup is a zinger. It brings a happy tingle to your nose and your belly. It can be great as a main course served with bread and unsalted butter or you can start with this as a delicious first course for a multi-course meal.
Time To Cook:
• Novice cook: 1 and 1/2 hours
• Experienced cook: 1 hour
Factoid
Carrots are amazing for you. They are packed full of antioxidants and they are the richest vegetable source of vitamin A carotenes. Carrots' antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision.
Plus, they're practical - remember that scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High where Phoebe Cates' character was demonstrating to Jennifer Jason Leigh's character how to eat a man's carrot properly?
Ingredients
• 1 pound orange carrots
• 1 pound yellow carrots
• 1 pound white carrots
• 1/4 cup peanut oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced green onion
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon honey, or to taste
• 8 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 4 ounces butter
• Oil, for deep-frying
• 1/2 cup julienne ginger
Equipment
• Large stock pot
• Hand blender or regular blender
• Vegetable peeler
Don't forget your measuring cups and spoons and cutting board.
Preparation (Do it!)
1) Peel the carrots and slice thinly. In a stockpot, heat the oil and sauté the garlic, minced ginger, green onions and pepper flakes for 1 to 2 minutes or just until glossy. Do not allow to develop color. 2) Add the carrots, salt, pepper, turmeric and honey. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. 3) Add the stock and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and add the cream. Cook for 40 minutes or until carrots are tender.
4) Transfer to a blender; add the butter and process to a puree. Strain soup into a new stockpot. If the soup is too thick, add extra stock. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and honey. Keep warm.
5) Preheat oil to 300˚F. Deep-fry the ginger and drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.
To serve: ladle 6 to 8 ounces of soup. Garnish with fried ginger. Serve immediately.
Tip: Cook this over a two-day process for a more intense flavor. If you can't get yellow and white carrots just use the regular orange ones.
Source: http://www.culinaryseductions.com/