A Quick and Easy Christmas Soup
I first discovered this soup back in 2016 or so and the Seasonal Festivities were very different to what we are faced with this year (I am not crying, promise!)
Thankfully, great recipes stand the test of time and so I am resharing this again this year as more than ever, we need some deliciousness and warmth in our lives. This is by far the most delicious soup I've tasted in a very long time, a bespoke recipe developed exclusively for the workshop by the Rye London studio owners, Holly and Renee. It is rich and warming and tastes incredibly creamy without any dairy (I omitted the creme fraiche obviously!)
Christmas is a time of rich often unhealthy food, so I wanted to promote this, the most simple of soups. It is cheap, super healthy, vegan and utterly utterly delicious. The blistered grapes were a revelation. They looked and tasted absolutely divine and really elevated the presentation and taste. This would make the most delicious meal, or starter. We served it with wedges of Abel and Cole sourdough, crème fraiche and toasted almonds.... and now I am literally salivating as I type.
All the ingredients were provided by Abel and Cole (thank you so much, guys!) and were a joy to work with. There are some foods where I don't think there’s a discernible difference between organic and non organic but but when it comes to parsnips (and carrots, in fact) I think organic far far trumps the rest, I find there is no comparison. So, seeing as parsnip is the dominant ingredient, I'd try to get organic if you can. Side note- an Abel and Cole box or subscription would be an ace last minute Christmas present for someone, wouldn't it?!
Parnsip and Roasted Garlic Soup with Blistered Grapes & Almonds by Rye London.
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
4 parsnips, peeled and cut into 4
1 garlic bulb
1 white onion, peeled and cut into 4
1 vegetable stock cube, gluten and lactose free
100 gr cashew butter
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
100 gr red grapes
Raw almonds, to serve
Fresh thyme, to serve
Creme fraiche, to serve
Method
1. Place garlic bulb in aluminium foil and roast in an 180C oven until brown and softened, for about 25 minutes.
2. Place parsnips and onion in a big pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook for about 15 minutes, until the parsnips and onions are soft and cooked all the way through.
3. Transfer (in batches if neccesary) to a blender and blend with the cooking water until smooth.
4. Squeeze all the garlic out of the bulb and add this with the stock cube and the cashew butter to the blender. Blend until smooth and airy.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Roast grapes in an 200C oven for 10 minutes until blistered. Roast almonds at the same time until golden brown and crispy. Chop up and set aside.
7. Serve soup with blistered grapes, chopped up almonds, a sprig of thyme and some creme fraiche.
The bowls are by Dassie Decor
I loved styling this. I wanted to keep things very white and very simple with just the barest hint of green, and I am so pleased with how it turned out.
Recipe and Images by RyeLondon. Food provided by Abel and Cole.
