Refreshingly Cool Carrot Mint Soup for Summer Days

Ingredients

• A pound of vibrant carrots
• Four ripe vine tomatoes, deseeded and cut into quarters
• Two tablespoons of olive oil, divided as required
• Salt from the sea to enhance
• Half an onion, finely diced
• A stalk of celery, finely chopped
• A generous 32-ounce vessel of vegetable broth
• A quarter cup of fragrant mint leaves
• A dollop of table cream
• Sprinkle of fresh mint leaves, to your liking.

Step 1

Start by preheating your oven to a toasty 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for a cozy cooking session. Grab a spacious roasting dish and generously scatter in some vibrant carrots and juicy tomatoes. Drizzle them with a touch of luscious olive oil, then sprinkle with a pinch of delightful kosher salt for that extra burst of flavor.

Step 2

Pop the dish into the preheated oven and let the magic happen as the veggies roast to tender perfection, which should take around 30 minutes. While the vegetables are busy caramelizing in the oven, let's move on to the stovetop.

Step 3

Heat up another spoonful of olive oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Toss in some finely chopped onions and cook them until they turn soft and translucent, usually around 3 to 4 minutes. Follow it up by adding some celery, and cook until they too become tender, ensuring that the onions don't get too brown, which should take about 4 minutes. Pour in some flavorful vegetable broth, then lower the heat and keep it warm on a gentle simmer.

Step 4

Once the roasted vegetables are ready, toss the tomatoes into the simmering broth right away. Let the carrots cool for a brief 5 minutes before coarsely chopping them up and adding them to the flavorful broth. Season with a bit more of that lovely kosher salt. Allow the soup to come to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer to allow the flavors to meld, which should take approximately 20 minutes.

Step 5

Now, it's time to blend things up. Carefully transfer the soup to a trusty blender, working in batches if needed. Toss in a generous handful of fresh mint leaves to add a refreshing twist. Secure the blender lid firmly with a potholder and pulse a few times before smoothly blending it to a velvety consistency. Pour the blended soup into a large serving bowl or container.

Step 6

Let the soup chill in the fridge for a good 2 hours to enhance the flavors. When ready to serve, garnish each bowl with a sprinkle of mint leaves and a lovely swirl of table cream for that final touch of elegance. Enjoy your refreshing and flavorful homemade soup!