Sweet Potato & Coconut Soup recipe @Not Quite Nigella

Sweet Potato & Coconut Soup

May 18, 2008 by Not Quite Nigella

I loathe winter but I make do as I don’t have the necessary funds to jet around the world following warm weather. So I make do and take advantage of one of the few benefits of Winter-Soup. Whenever I think of cold weather, I think of this soup. It’s spices and fragrant lemongrass are perfect to give it a lift above a plain sweet potato soup.

Whatever you do, only use the tender parts of the lemongrass. The first time I made this, I had no idea about lemongrass and my dinner guests were left with grassy pieces of lemongrass in their soup.

Sweet potato & coconut soup

1kg sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoons oil
2 tablespoons grated ginger
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
2 red chillies, chopped
2 stalks lemongrass, finely chopped (do not used stringy green part)
2 cups vegetable stock
2 cups coconut milk
1 tablespoon palm or brown sugar

1. Steam sweet potato for 10 minutes until tender and soft. Drain and set aside.

2. Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat, add ginger, cumin seeds, chiles and lemongrass and cook for 3 minutes.

3. Place sweet potato and cooked spice mixture ina food processor or blender with 1 cup of hte stock and process until smooth. Add the other cup of stock and process again.

4. Place puree in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add coconut milk and palm sugar and stir until soup is simmering and hot.

Serves 4

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1. Maria | May 18, 2008 at 9:45 am | #

So *this* is how you ate the potato/rosemary bread!

The first time I ever tasted lemongrass was in a takeaway Thai dish and I was spitting the grainy/sandy textured lemongrass out in little “spit balls” right throughout the meal.. it wasn’t nice at all. I don’t think they cared about which part of the lemongrass was soft.. so it seemed!

This soup sounds lovely.. and I’m thinking you could substitute the sweet potato with pumpkin too. I love cumin and chilli in things.. Mmmm! Have a great day!
2. Popeye | May 18, 2008 at 1:33 pm | #

I LOVE lemongrass, will definitely have to try this.
3. Not Quite Nigella | May 18, 2008 at 2:33 pm | #

Hi Maria-yup that is it! Oh yes if you use the tender bits it shouldn’t be so bad. If it’s sandy I don’t think they’ve peeled off the outer layers enough, that’s no good.

Yes definitely, pumpkin could most certainly be substituted for it, in fact I will probably make a batch with pumpkin this week. Thanks and hope you’re having a great day too!

Hi Popeye-It’s lovely isn’t it and nice in savoury and sweet dishes. I make my husband a lemongrass iced tea and he loves it
4. grace | May 18, 2008 at 7:19 pm | #

this sounds so fabulous, it could be the hottest day of the year and i’d still crave it! it looks smooth and silky and absolutely delicious.
5. Kim | May 19, 2008 at 4:33 am | #

I am rather jealous after this post. For one, I am nursing my sad lungs and I know the soup would ail all woes. Also, I am a fall and winter girl and forgot you were half around the world experiencing the opposite seasons. Do you want to trade?
6. LisaRene | May 19, 2008 at 5:23 am | #

Lovely soup! Great tip about the lemon grass. I remember being a bit confused the first time I cooked with it as well. That potato bread looks so tasty. Bread and soup are a match made in heaven
7. Christie @ fig&cherr | May 19, 2008 at 12:14 pm | #

Yum! This is fantastic – all those flavours sound perfect together!
8. Not Quite Nigella | May 19, 2008 at 9:49 pm | #

Hi grace-Thanks so much. Actually it’s not so bad when it’s only slightly warmed too!

Hi Kim-Sorry to hear that-hope you feel better soon! Absolutely, I would trade in a second! Summer or Spring all round would suit me just fine – and who knows I might miss the cold so much I might actually go to a cold climate for a holiday for a change

Hi LisaRene-Thanks! Yes I only learnt that through trial and error-they really should mention it in recipes! They sure are the perfect pair and a great compensation for cold weather

Hi Christie-Thankyou! They work really well togetherm the spices aren’t too overwhelming and the sweet potato is very creamy.
9. Patricia Scarpin | May 19, 2008 at 10:19 pm | #

That is a perfect way of having that beautiful loaf of bread you baked, Lorraine. I love this kind of soup!
10. Lore | May 20, 2008 at 3:10 am | #

If you say cumin, sweet potatoes and soup in the same recipe I might show up at your doorstep
11. Not Quite Nigella | May 20, 2008 at 10:37 pm | #

Hi Patricia-Thankyou so much, I made the bread and quickly whipped up the soup so I could have them together

Hi Lore-Hehe that would be funny if I did hear a knock
12. Iron Chef Shellie | May 21, 2008 at 11:46 am | #

this sounds and looks amazing! Can’t wait to try and make it =)
13. Not Quite Nigella | May 21, 2008 at 9:38 pm | #

Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Thanks! Do try it, it’s very easy but good
14. Gabby | March 31, 2009 at 4:32 pm | #

OHHH This sweet potato soup sounds soo good!!!

Gabby
15. Archana | June 10, 2009 at 8:48 pm | #

That is a perfect way of having that beautiful loaf of bread you baked. The addition of lemon grass is very interesting. Have to try this soup this monsoon.