Creamy Carrot Soup with Star Anise

Indulge in the velvety simplicity of Creamy Carrot Soup with Star Anise, a gourmet twist on a comforting classic. This wholesome recipe showcases the earthy sweetness of tender carrots, perfectly balanced by the warm, aromatic depth of star anise. Sautéed onions and garlic form a flavorful base, while a touch of heavy cream adds luxurious richness to the pureed soup. With just 40 minutes from prep to table, this one-pot wonder is easy to prepare yet elegant enough for entertaining. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and savor every spoonful of this soul-soothing, restaurant-worthy dish that's ideal for cozy nights or a light yet satisfying lunch.

Nutriscore Rating: 81/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 6 medium (about 1.5 lbs) carrots
• 1 medium onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 whole star anise
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 0.5 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons, chopped (optional, for garnish) fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Peel and roughly chop the carrots into 1-inch pieces. Dice the onion and mince the garlic.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil and butter together in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 5 minutes, or until softened.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.

Step 4

Stir in the chopped carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes, allowing them to soak up the flavors of the onion and garlic.

Step 5

Add the whole star anise and pour in the vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the carrots are completely tender.

Step 6

Remove the star anise from the pot and discard it. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or transfer the soup in batches to a stand blender and blend until creamy. Return the soup to the pot if blended separately.

Step 7

Stir in the heavy cream, salt, and black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step 8

Warm the soup over low heat for 2-3 minutes until heated through, without letting it boil.

Step 9

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(5350.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2878.4

Total Fat 99.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 38.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 9.7g
Cholesterol 151mg	0%
Sodium 6285.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 468.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 128.8g	0%
Total Sugars 214.6g
Protein 58.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1570.0mg	0%
Iron 19.7mg	0%
Potassium 15159.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 29.7%

Protein: 7.8%

Carbs: 62.5%