Roasted Beetroot & Lemon Thyme Soup
Ingredients
- 2 large beetroot
- 1/4 cup olive oil plus extra to serve, 60ml
- 1 tsp coriander seeds crushed, plus extra to serve
- 2 onions thinly sliced
- 1 leek chopped, white part only
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 celery stalk chopped
- 1 carrot chopped
- 1 fennel bulb chopped
- 1 tbs white wine vinegar
- 1/2 leaves bunch lemon thyme picked, plus extra to serve
- 2 pontiac or desiree potatoes peeled, thinly sliced
- Crumbled marinated feta to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a baking tray and line with baking paper.
- Wrap each beetroot in foil and place on prepared tray. Roast for 2-2 1/2 hours or until a knife pierces them easily. Remove and cool, then peel (wear gloves to prevent staining) and roughly chop.
- Meanwhile, to make the stock, heat half the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add coriander seeds and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Add half the onion, leek and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until slightly softened. Add the celery, carrot and fennel, and cook, stirring occasionally, for a further 2-3 minutes or until carrot begins to soften.
- Add vinegar, half the thyme and 2.5L (10 cups) water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook, skimming impurities from the surface, for 45-60 minutes or until fragrant and flavours are infused. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly, then carefully strain through a fine sieve, discarding vegetables. Set aside.
- Heat remaining 1 1/2 tbs oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the remaining onion, leek and garlic, and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes or until translucent. Add beetroot, potato and remaining thyme, and cook, stirring, for a further 2-3 minutes or until warmed through. Add stock, then increase heat to high and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until potato is tender. Cool slightly, then, in batches, whiz in a blender until smooth (add a little hot water if needed).
- Serve soup topped with feta, olive oil, coriander seeds and lemon thyme.