Hearty carrot potato soup

Carrot potato soup
Comforting and simple, this carrot potato soup is a must-make for soup season. It's economical, easy to throw together with a few basic ingredients, freezes perfectly, and it’s so delicious
Serves: 4
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Course: Soup
Approx. Energy: 181 kcal per serve (estimate)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced (any type)
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped or grated
- 1 celery stick, chopped
- 450g carrots (about 5 medium), peeled and diced
- 450g potatoes (about 2 large or 4–5 small), peeled and diced
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley (optional)
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (plus more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon fine salt (adjust to taste)
- 600ml low-sodium vegetable stock
- 2–3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Method
- Sauté the base:
Heat the butter or oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onion softens and becomes translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. - Add the vegetables and herbs:
Tip in the carrots, potatoes, celery, herbs, salt, and pepper. Stir well and cook for 2–3 minutes to bring out the flavours. - Simmer the soup:
Pour in the vegetable stock. Bring the soup to the boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover with a lid and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender. - Blend (optional):
Turn off the heat and allow the soup to cool slightly. Transfer about 1 cup of soup to a blender and blend until smooth (be cautious—hot liquid can splash!). This adds creaminess, but if you prefer a chunky texture or want to skip the blender, that’s fine too. You can also use a stick blender right in the pot. - Finish and serve:
Return the blended portion to the pot and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Stir through the chopped fresh parsley just before serving. - To serve:
Ladle into bowls, top with a little extra black pepper and parsley if you like, and enjoy with crusty bread.
Tips
- No scales? Roughly 5 medium carrots = 450g; 2 large or 4–5 small potatoes = 450g.
- Salt: If using regular (not low-sodium) stock, go easy on the salt at the start and adjust at the end.
- Storage: This soup keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days and freezes beautifully.
Nutrition
Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 403mg | Potassium: 896mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 19069IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2mgRecipe from The Clever Meal