Chilled Carrot Soup with Coriander Yogurt & Daylilies

Posted by Stephanie Meyer on Apr 5, 2011 at 1:06pm

If you’ve been missing the locally produced online documentary series The Perennial Plate, don’t fret: It’s online! Which is good, because once you start watching, you won’t be able to stop. The series—hosted by chef/activist Daniel Klein and filmed by cameraman/editor Mirra Fine—just wrapped its first year of weekly episodes documenting “socially responsible and adventurous eating” in Minnesota.

Foraged vegetables, wild mushrooms, Hope Creamery butter, and roadkill deer—yes—all make appearances in Daniel’s delicious recipes.

I’m hardly the series’ only fan, which is syndicated by no less than The Huffington Post, Serious Eats, Grist, and Cooking Up a Story. It turns out that eating locally and sustainably in Minnesota is playing to a national and international audience.

For year two, starting pretty much right now, Daniel & Mirra are hitting the road for a Real Food Road Trip, traveling the country to explore real American food and the people who make and eat it. Viewers of the series will contribute story ideas and vote on destinations via The Perennial Plate website. Cooking, eating, and filming will ensue.

If you dig the concept, and admire their stunning cinematography, join Daniel, Mirra, and many avid fans on Saturday, April 16 at Two Pony Gardens in Long Lake for a send-off party and fundraiser. Daniel will be making pizzas using Two Pony host Lisa Ringer’s sourdough starter and outdoor pizza oven. I suspect Mirra will have a camera in her hands. Music, drinks, and a silent auction will fill out the evening.

Until then, make this gorgeous carrot soup—Daniel’s recipe—immediately. Seriously, it’s the best carrot soup I’ve ever had. My husband said exactly that when he took a bite. I love the way flavor is layered into the soup, the yogurt garnish, and in the taste-like-spring daylily sprouts. The sprouts in the soup picture are from Daniel and Mirra’s house, where they were popping up in a sunny spot along their foundation just last week.

Spring is indeed coming. Enjoy a bowl of it.

Chilled Carrot Soup with Coriander Yogurt & Daylilies
Daniel Klein
Serves 4

8 carrots, peeled & chopped
extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. honey, divided
salt
2 leeks from last winter (or 5 just-springing-up onions), diced
sachet (2 Tbsp. peppercorns, 2 garlic cloves, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 cove star anise, 2 Tbsp. toasted coriander seeds)
3 Tbsp. butter
water or vegetable stock
1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar (plus more to taste)
1/4 c. Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp. toasted & ground coriander seeds
1/4 c. chopped daylily sprouts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss carrots with a generous drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. of honey, and a sprinkle of salt. Spread carrots on a baking sheet and roast until slightly caramelized, about 15-20 minutes. Remove carrots from oven and set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the leeks with a pinch of salt and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the roasted carrots and cover with water or vegetable stock. Add the sachet and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. The carrots should be soft but not mushy. Puree in a blender with 1 Tbsp. vinegar, adding more water or stock to achieve desired consistency. Chill the soup. Before serving, taste and add vinegar, honey, and/or salt to correct seasonings.

To serve the soup: Stir together the yogurt, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. honey, a pinch of salt, and ground coriander seeds. In another small bowl, toss the daylily sprouts with 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt.

Serve chilled soup with a dollop (or swirl) of yogurt, the daylilies, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

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Older Comments

  1. By FreshTartSteph on April 9, 2011 at 10:59AM

    Thanks 44lalley! I had such fun with this recipe. Pure spring, yum.

  2. By 44lalley on April 6, 2011 at 9:31AM

    This looks incredible! We've made day lily soup before, but never used day lilies as a garnish...I like this!

  3. By FreshTartSteph on April 5, 2011 at 5:39PM

    They're tiles underneath! Spares from sister's kitchen. Aren't they so pretty? Thank you! Feel better soon, dear. Soup always helps :)

  4. By Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets on April 5, 2011 at 4:36PM

    What an interesting plate underneathe. I love the color against the carrot and scallions (?). This looks like just what I need to feel better (a bit under the weather now)....