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Creamy Carrot Soup with Bacon Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 137 reviews

This creamy carrot soup with bacon is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for any season. The soup combines the natural sweetness of tender carrots with the smoky, savory notes of crispy streaky bacon. Finished with cream and milk for a luscious texture, it’s garnished with fresh herbs and paired beautifully with crusty bread, making it an ideal starter or light meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Sauté and Soup Base

  • 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • 4 slices streaky bacon (~120g/4oz)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 5 large carrots, cut into 1.5 cm (3/5″) chunks
  • 1 litre (1 quart) vegetable or chicken broth (4 cups)

Creamy Finish

  • 1/2 cup (125 ml) cream
  • 3/4 cup (185 ml) milk (any fat %)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

For Serving

  • Fresh thyme or chopped parsley
  • Cream, for swirling
  • Crusty bread

Instructions

  1. Prepare the bacon: Heat the olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the streaky bacon and cook until crisp. Remove the bacon from the pot and set aside, leaving the flavorful bacon fat in the pot for the next steps.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the pot with the bacon fat. Cook over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Cook the carrots: Add the carrot chunks to the pot and stir to coat them in the oil and aromatics. Cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the carrots to soften slightly and begin releasing their flavors.
  4. Add broth and simmer: Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth, ensuring the carrots are fully submerged. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the carrots are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
  5. Blend the soup: Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, transfer the soup in batches to a blender, then return it to the pot.
  6. Add cream and milk: Stir in the cream and milk, warming the soup gently over low heat. Avoid boiling once the dairy is added. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  7. Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Garnish with crispy bacon pieces, a swirl of cream, and fresh thyme or chopped parsley. Accompany with slices of crusty bread for dipping and enjoying.

Notes

  • You can substitute streaky bacon with turkey bacon for a leaner version.
  • For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon and use vegetable broth, adding smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
  • The soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
  • Adjust cream and milk quantities to achieve preferred soup thickness and richness.
  • If you prefer a chunkier texture, blend only half the soup and leave the rest with carrot pieces.

Keywords: Carrot soup, creamy carrot soup, bacon soup, autumn soup, comforting soup, easy soup recipe, homemade carrot soup

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/creamy-carrot-soup-with-bacon-recipe/