Vegan Spiced Carrot Soup

A Bite Inspired by… “Plenty” (2011 Cookbook):

When London chef, Yotam Ottolenghi, first released his cookbook “Plenty” in the United States, food lovers went crazy for his vibrant, Mediterranean take on vegetables.  My Vegan Spiced Carrot Soup recipe follows Ottolenghi’s simple, yet ingenious principle of making veggies not only delicious, but beautiful.  This soup is hearty, colorful, and so delicious, you’ll forget how nutritious it is.  You can also enter a GIVEAWAY to win your very own copy of Ottolenghi’s gorgeous, hardcover cookbook!  Let’s celebrate the beauty of vegetables together!

Since I’m a food blogger, it probably won’t surprise you to know that I literally own hundreds of cookbooks.  Before I learned to create my own recipes, my cookbooks were my bread and butter (excuse the corny food pun!)  I often get asked what my favorite cookbook is.  This question is so incredibly difficult for me– it’s like someone asking me who my favorite child is.  I love them all the same for totally different reasons.  Okay, so comparing cookbooks to children may be going a bit far, but you get the idea.  It’s HARD to pick a favorite.

If I really had to choose though, “Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi” is definitely up there.  As the title implies, this collection of recipes from the acclaimed chef, Yotam Ottolenghi, centers entirely around vegetables.  Ottolenghi is not a vegetarian, himself, but has taken an interest in the rise of vegetarianism, as well as, new methods of farming and sourcing vegetables.  This cookbook includes over a hundred vegetarian recipes for everything from soup to salads to desserts to pasta, all utilizing fruits or vegetables as the star item on the plate.  I’m so obsessed with this book because the recipes are so simple, yet ingenious.  The dishes are super versatile and can be enjoyed alone or as an accompaniment to meat or fish.  Plus, the pictures are absolutely GORGEOUS.

Ottolenghi’s approach to fresh, mediterranean cooking took the the world by storm. He proved that even the pickiest eaters will eat their veggies, if they’re prepared in a fresh, unique way. Epicurious included “Plenty” in its 2015 list of “The Ten Cookbooks Every Chef Should Own” and it received the Observer Food Monthly Award for Best Cookbook in 2011.  Guys, this cookbook is the real deal.

Feeling inspired by Chef Ottolenghi, I decided to create my own take on a dish that features vegetables front and center.  This Vegan Spiced Carrot Soup is creamy and vibrant with just the right amount of spice.  Plus, it has delicious whole grain garlic croutons on top to add some crunch!  In the spirit of celebrating vegetables, I wanted to highlight the carrots in this soup, rather than hide them.  My choice of spices (pictured below: cinnamon, curry powder, ground cumin, chipotle chili powder, paprika, and tumeric) was a very deliberate one as I believe the flavors I chose really complement the carrot and bring out its natural sweetness.

The culinary journey I’ve gone on with “Plenty” has greatly informed my cooking style.  It’s given me an appreciation for simple ingredients and taught me how to enhance them, rather than conceal them under heavy, unnecessary flavors.  I really, truly believe that every home cook should own a copy of this book.  In fact, I believe this so much that I’m giving away a beautiful, hardcover copy of “Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi” (a $35 value) to ONE lucky winner through a GIVEAWAY I’m hosting from Friday, February 17^th, 2017 at midnight EST through Wednesday, March 8^th, 2017 at midnight EST. If I could afford it, I would give away a copy of this book to every reader of my blog because I love it that much, but given reality, I’m happy that I can at least give a copy of this book away to one person.

All you have to do to enter the “Plenty” Cookbook Giveaway is fill out the Cookbook Giveaway form that’s either on your side bar or at the bottom of the page, depending on your device.  The form only asks for your first name and email address.  Your email address will remain private and won’t be shared with any third parties per our Privacy Policy.  When you enter the giveaway, you’ll also be added to A Bite of Inspiration’s email list (unless, you’re already a subscriber), where you’ll receive the occasional email whenever a new recipe is posted.  It’s a total win-win— you’ll receive delicious recipes straight to your inbox AND you could snag yourself a free cookbook.  What could be better?

That’s all for now, folks!  Until next time: make this soup, eat your veggies, and enter to win one of the most inspiring cookbooks of all time!  Feels pretty doable, right? 😉

Please note: You must be at least 13 years of age to enter the giveaway.  One winner will be drawn at random out of all the entries.  The winner will be notified by email on Thursday, March 9^th.  Good luck everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!  CONGRATS TO THE WINNER, JENNA L. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL WHO ENTERED.  BE SURE TO LOOK OUT FOR MORE GIVEAWAYS IN THE FUTURE!