Description
This Creamy Carrot Soup with Bacon is a comforting and flavorful recipe perfect for a cozy meal. The combination of tender carrots, smoky streaky bacon, and a creamy blend of cream and milk creates a rich, velvety soup. Garnished with fresh herbs and served with crusty bread, this soup makes an inviting appetizer or light lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 4 slices streaky bacon (~120g/4oz)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 5 large carrots, cut into 1.5 cm (3/5 inch) chunks
- 1 litre (1 quart) vegetable or chicken broth (4 cups)
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) cream
- 3/4 cup (185 ml) milk (any fat %)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Serving
- Fresh thyme or chopped parsley
- Cream, for swirling
- Crusty bread
Instructions
- Prepare the bacon: Heat olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the streaky bacon slices and cook until crispy and browned, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the bacon and set aside on paper towels to drain excess fat.
- Sauté the aromatics: In the same pot with the bacon fat, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook over medium heat until softened and fragrant, about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning.
- Add carrots and broth: Add the chopped carrots to the pot and stir to combine with the onions and garlic. Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the carrots are tender, approximately 20-25 minutes.
- Blend the soup: Use an immersion blender directly in the pot to puree the soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, carefully transfer the soup in batches to a blender and blend until smooth, then return it to the pot.
- Add cream and milk: Stir in the cream and milk to the pureed soup. Heat gently over low heat until warmed through, taking care not to boil, which can cause the dairy to curdle.
- Season and serve: Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Crumble the reserved crispy bacon over the top of the soup. Garnish with fresh thyme or chopped parsley and a swirl of cream. Serve with crusty bread on the side.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and use vegetable broth.
- Adjust cream and milk quantities for desired richness or to make the soup lighter.
- If you don’t have an immersion blender, use a regular blender but be careful when blending hot liquids.
- Crusty bread pairs perfectly to soak up the soup’s creamy texture.
- You can substitute fresh herbs with dried but add them earlier during cooking for better flavor release.
Keywords: creamy carrot soup, bacon soup, easy carrot soup, fall soup recipe, creamy vegetable soup