Sweet Potato Soup is simply complex. There aren’t a lot of ingredients in the soup. Yes, the addition of glazed pecans, maple bacon, and sour cream or Greek yogurt adds complexity to the soup. The soup consists of only a few ingredients: onion, carrot, celery, sweet potato, and either vegetable or protein stock. The complexity truly lies in the lovely, earthy, rich flavor of the sweet potato, which is only enhanced by the creamy texture after being blended.
The soup is thickened; however, unlike most thickened soups, the pureeing of the sweet potatoes themselves thickens this one. This provides a gluten-free option as well, since there is no roux or other gluten-thickening agents.
Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes?
Sweet potatoes are a great source of nutrition. Sweet potatoes are similar to white potatoes in that they have a high glycemic load, which can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of diabetes. For more information on Sweet potato nutrition and other nutritional information, visit Harvard Education
Nutritional Equivalent
Portion Size – 1 Cup
Calories – 110 Vitamin C – 5%
Dietary Fiber – 4g Vitamin B6 – 15%
Potassium- 448mg Magnesium – 8%
Vitamin A – Beta Carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A, is also what aids in the bright color of the carrot and the sweet potato. Vitamin A helps in eye health.
Vitamin C- helps reduce illness and infection with the antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals.
Vitamin B6- contains an enzyme that helps aid in breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Potassium helps maintain the level of fluids inside the cells in our body, and sodium maintains the fluid level outside the cells.
Magnesium – helps to strengthen bones by helping regulate vitamin D
Fiber – We should each consume 20-30 grams of fiber per day. Fiber aids in the traffic control of the digestive system. It aids in distributing sugars in the body. Fiber isn’t digestible; it passes through the body. Fiber helps keep you feeling full because it remains intact, not being broken down into sugars. It aids in cleaning the digestive tract.
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt?
This soup, which is both rich in flavor and texture, is a perfect complement to a dollop of dairy. Traditionally, sour cream would be a great option. You can’t go wrong with the rich, creamy, and yet savory sour cream added to this soup. The sour cream option may be the best option for you if you are looking for additional fat and calories.
There is another option for adding a creamy texture to soups, such as sweet potato soup. One option that you might choose is Greek yogurt. The yogurt should be 0% fat and 0% sugar. Fage 0% yogurt provides texture and creaminess to a dish that is very similar to sour cream.
Sour Cream – 2 Tbls. = 60 calories, 5 of them from fat, which equals about 75% of the calories, 1 gram of protein.
Fage 0% Yogurt – 2 Tbls. = 15 calories, zero from fat, 3 grams of protein.
Sweet Potato Soup
Soup is an excellent course for a dinner, or as a meal in and of itself. Soup is often a means to provide food while stretching your resources. I believe this was one of the original intentions of soup. Whether you had protein or only vegetables, they might go in a pot with some water.
They would be cooked and seasoned in the way that they had resources for seasoning. Salt pork, herbs, bones, fish, or fish bones may have been part of this soup-making process. The dish might be served with a biscuit or piece of bread, or you could toss some rice into it, or perhaps some root vegetables.
In the recipes for this soup, you can easily make adjustments for either a Vegan, Vegetarian, or protein-enhanced version. This particular recipe is also a gluten-free option. It is essential to check the ingredients of any bouillon or base used for stock to ensure it is indeed gluten-free.
The main difference among these three options is in the stock and the auxiliary garnishes.
Simple Ingredients
The ingredients we use in our recipes are what give us the flavors we enjoy so much. I believe the ingredients should speak for themselves. In this recipe, the sweet potato is so distinct, sweet, and rich in its way. A gluten-free recipe that is low in fat and calories.
The original recipe features candied bacon, a distinct ingredient in its own right, intended to complement the dish. The glazed pecans are similar, particularly in their own right. The sour cream or yogurt is also an individual item meant to complement the dish. Scallions are a single ingredient that acts like the 3 previously mentioned components of this dish.
The sweet potato soup itself is a straightforward recipe—the ingredients are sweet potato, celery, carrots, onions, and stock. The stock is either vegetarian or likely a chicken stock, depending on whether you want to be vegan, vegetarian, or have a protein option. The main ingredient, sweet potatoes, is only enhanced by the addition of celery, carrots, onions, and the chosen stock.
The result in this dish is a clean sweet potato flavor that is subtly enhanced by the auxiliary elements: pecans, bacon, chives, and chili oil. Each of these elements is distinct and complements the main ingredient. The dish is simple, and the ingredients are equally as simple. The result is this delicious soup.
Whether you choose to make your soup vegan, vegetarian, or opt for the protein option, you’ll get a flavorful, nutritious soup that’s filling.
Sweet Potato with Maple Bacon and Spiced Pecan Soup
Ingredients
- 6 cup Chicken Stock
- 2 tbsp oil chili oil
- 5 oz Onion peele ddiced
- 3 ea Ribs of Celery cut into chunks
- 2 ea Carrot
- 3 lbs sweet potato trimmed and cut into chunks
- 4 tbsp chopped Scallions
- 4 oz Sour cream
- 5 tbsp diced bacon cooked, candied
- 5 oz pecan spiced pecans
Instructions
- In a stockpot, add 1 Tablespoon chili oil, saute onions, carrots, celery, sweet potato, saute 2-3 minutes add 4 cups of stock, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, cover
- Blend ingredients in a blender or with an immersion blender to a smooth, creamy consistency
- Ladle soup into a bowl, drizzle a few drops of chili oil on top, garnish with one tablespoon sour cream, one tsp candied bacon, one tsp spiced nuts, some slivered scallion
