Dive into a bowl of pure comfort with this incredible sweet potato soup recipe. Roasting the sweet potatoes brings out a depth of flavor you won’t find any other way, creating a truly rich and satisfying experience for your taste buds. This simple yet sophisticated soup is a beginner-friendly delight, perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend meal. You’ll love its naturally sweet taste and remarkably easy preparation, making it a healthy and warming choice.
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Soup
This sweet potato soup recipe is a true gem for its straightforward approach and delicious results, making it an instant family favorite you’ll want to make again and again.
- Quick and easy preparation: With minimal chopping and hands-on time, this comforting soup comes together effortlessly from start to finish in under an hour.
- Deep, caramelized flavors from roasting: Roasting vegetables creates a natural sweetness and complex, savory taste that simple boiling just can’t achieve, enhancing the soup’s overall richness.
- Simple, wholesome ingredients: You need just a few common items to make this nutritious and incredibly satisfying dish, often found right in your pantry or local grocery store.
- Perfect for meal prep and freezing: Cook a large batch and enjoy healthy, flavorful meals throughout the week, or store convenient portions for up to three months in the freezer.
- Highly customizable to taste: Easily adjust the spices and add-ins to match your personal preferences, creating a unique soup experience tailored perfectly to your liking every time.
The Best Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Place cubed sweet potatoes and halved shallots in a large bowl.
- Toss with olive oil, salt, thyme, and cumin until evenly coated.
- Spread the vegetables on the baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, until tender and caramelized.
- While roasting, heat chicken stock in a saucepan until hot but not boiling.
- Transfer roasted vegetables to a blender and add the hot stock. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add a swirl of sour cream or yogurt if desired.
- Serve hot with crusty bread or a sprinkle of fresh herbs.
Notes
Ingredients
Gather these fresh, wholesome ingredients to create your rich and flavorful sweet potato soup recipe. Each component plays a vital role in developing the soup’s delicious depth.
- 1 pound garnet sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 large shallots, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon of cumin seeds (or ground cumin)
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons sour cream or plain yogurt (Greek or regular, omit for paleo version)
Notes & Substitutions
Enhance your sweet potato soup recipe with these helpful tips and flexible alternatives, ensuring you can make it regardless of your pantry stock.
- Sweet potatoes: Garnet, Jewel, or Covington varieties work beautifully, offering a vibrant orange color and naturally sweet flavor. Look for firm, unblemished roots. For extra fiber and a rustic texture, you can even leave the skins on after a thorough scrub.
- Shallots: These provide a milder, sweeter onion flavor profile that perfectly complements the sweetness of the roasted sweet potatoes. If you don’t have shallots, use half a small yellow onion, finely chopped.
- Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds a lovely Mediterranean note and significantly helps with the caramelization process during roasting. Avocado oil is another excellent high-heat option to consider for this recipe.
- Spices: Ground cumin works perfectly if you don’t have seeds, simply use the same measurement for convenience. Feel free to add a pinch of ground ginger for warmth or a dash of smoked paprika for an extra layer of savory depth.
- Stock: Chicken stock provides richness and body to the soup. For a vegetarian or vegan version of this delicious roasted sweet potato purée, confidently substitute with a good quality vegetable broth.
- Cream/Yogurt: For a dairy-free or vegan option, stir in full-fat coconut milk or a plant-based plain yogurt at the end for desired creaminess and a subtle tangy finish.
Equipment
You won’t need many special tools to make this delicious sweet potato soup recipe a reality in your kitchen; simple kitchen essentials are all it takes.
- Baking sheet: A large one ensures the sweet potatoes and shallots can spread out in a single layer, preventing steaming and promoting perfectly even roasting and browning.
- Large bowl: This is essential for tossing the cut vegetables thoroughly with the oil and seasonings, ensuring every piece is coated before roasting.
- Saucepan: Use this to gently heat your chicken or vegetable stock until it’s steamy and ready for blending, which helps maintain the soup’s warmth.
- High-speed blender or immersion blender: Either tool will efficiently create a wonderfully smooth and creamy soup texture from the roasted vegetables, giving you that restaurant-quality finish.
Instructions
Follow these easy steps to prepare your heartwarming sweet potato soup recipe. This method ensures maximum flavor through the roasting process and simple, efficient blending, perfect for beginners.
Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Begin by preheating your oven to a hot 450°F (232°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, aluminum foil, or a silicone mat. This crucial step prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, ensuring your roasted vegetables lift off easily without any fuss.Prep sweet potatoes and shallots: Place the peeled and uniformly cubed sweet potatoes and the halved shallots into a large mixing bowl. The consistent size of the cubes helps them cook evenly throughout, guaranteeing optimal texture and tendernessToss vegetables with oil and seasonings: Drizzle the vegetables generously with extra virgin olive oil, ensuring good coverage. Sprinkle them with kosher salt, aromatic ground thyme, and your chosen cumin (seeds or ground). Toss everything together thoroughly with your hands or a large spoon until all the pieces are well coated in the olive oil and spice mixture. This meticulous coating ensures every bite is bursting with flavor.Roast vegetables until tender and caramelized: Spread the seasoned sweet potatoes and shallots out in a single layer on your prepared baking sheet. It is vital to avoid crowding them, which can lead to steaming instead of proper roasting and browning. Roast for approximately 25 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked through, beautifully tender when pierced with a fork, and boast nicely caramelized, browned edges. This rich browning is key to the deep, complex flavor of this creamy sweet potato soup. Carefully remove the sheet from the oven.
While roasting, heat chicken stock: While the vegetables are in the oven, pour the chicken stock into a medium saucepan. Heat it on the stovetop over medium heat until it’s steamy and hot. You want it warm to the touch, but not vigorously boiling. Keeping the stock hot ensures your blended soup stays wonderfully warm and significantly reduces the overall blending time.
Carefully blend roasted vegetables with hot stock: Transfer the roasted sweet potatoes and shallots directly into a high-speed blender. Carefully add the hot chicken stock. Purée until the mixture is completely smooth and wonderfully creamy, achieving a luxurious texture. Remember a crucial safety note: when blending hot liquids, always fill the blender bowl no more than one-third full to prevent dangerous pressure buildup. Start blending on the lowest speed with short pulses, gradually increasing the speed as the liquid emulsifies. If you have a large batch, work in smaller, manageable batches for safety. Alternatively, an immersion blender offers a convenient and safer option, allowing you to blend directly in the saucepan, reducing transfers.
Season soup to taste: Pour the smooth soup back into your saucepan if you used a stand blender, for easy final adjustments. Taste the soup. Add more salt and black pepper as needed to truly enhance and balance all the delicious, naturally sweet and savory flavors. Don’t skip this critical final step; a final seasoning adjustment makes all the difference in a perfect sweet potato soup.
Serve immediately with desired toppings: Ladle the hot sweet potato soup generously into individual serving bowls. Serve immediately, perhaps with a delightful dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt if you’re using it, as this adds a lovely cool contrast. Consider a sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs like chives or toasted pumpkin seeds for an appealing garnish and textural element.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Master this sweet potato soup recipe with a few expert insights for the best results every single time you prepare it, ensuring a perfect outcome.
- Choosing the best sweet potatoes: Select firm, heavy sweet potatoes with smooth skin, free from any soft spots, green tinges, or sprouts, as these indicate freshness. Freshness directly impacts the soup’s natural sweetness and desirable texture.
- Achieving perfect caramelization: Never overcrowd your baking sheet. Giving the vegetables ample space allows for proper air circulation around each piece, which is absolutely essential for even browning and the crucial caramelization of their natural sugars, rather than just steaming them.
- Tips for safely blending hot liquids: Always vent the blender lid slightly or remove the center cap. Cover this opening with a clean kitchen towel to catch any potential splatters and effectively prevent dangerous pressure from building up inside the blender. Start blending on the lowest speed and increase gradually.
- Adjusting soup consistency: If your sweet potato soup turns out thicker than you prefer, simply add more hot stock or even water, one tablespoon at a time. Stir well after each addition until it reaches your desired silky smooth consistency.
- Preventing over-roasting for best flavor: Keep a close eye on the sweet potatoes and shallots during the last few minutes of roasting, especially if your oven runs hot. You want them beautifully tender and browned, but definitely not burnt, as burnt bits can introduce a noticeably bitter taste to your otherwise wonderfully sweet potato soup.
Serving, Storage, and Variations
Make the most of your delicious sweet potato soup recipe with these flexible ideas for enjoyment, meal planning, and creative twists that will delight everyone.
- Serving suggestions: Serve your warm and hearty soup with a side of crusty artisan bread, warm focaccia, or garlic knots, which are perfect for soaking up every last drop of the rich purée. Garnish with fresh chives, a sprinkle of smoky paprika, toasted pumpkin seeds, or a light swirl of extra virgin olive oil for an elegant finish.
- Make it a meal: Transform this into a heartier, more substantial meal. Stir in some pre-cooked shredded chicken, a handful of crispy roasted chickpeas for texture, or a generous portion of fresh spinach or kale during the last few minutes of heating for added greens and nutrients.
- Refrigeration: Store any leftover creamy sweet potato soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay wonderfully fresh and delicious for up to 5-7 days, making it perfect for convenient lunches or dinners.
- Freezing instructions: This soup freezes beautifully, making it an excellent candidate for future meals! Allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature first. Then, transfer it to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving some headspace for expansion. Freeze for up to three months.
- Reheating: To enjoy later, thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator or gently on the stovetop. Gently reheat the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s thoroughly warmed through. You can also conveniently microwave individual portions. Add a splash of broth or water if it seems too thick after chilling or freezing.
- Flavor variations: Experiment with unique additions to personalize your sweet potato soup. Try a tablespoon of grated fresh ginger for a spicy warmth, a teaspoon of curry powder for an exotic twist, a splash of maple syrup for extra natural sweetness, or a can of full-fat coconut milk for a rich, tropical creaminess that’s dairy-free.
Nutrition
Enjoying this wholesome sweet potato soup recipe offers delicious and comforting goodness for your body. Sweet potatoes are naturally packed with essential vitamins like A and C, and plenty of beneficial fiber, making this a smart and nourishing choice.
According to the USDA, sweet potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin A, providing a substantial portion of the daily recommended value.
Per serving (approximate):
- Calories: 210
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 5g
- Fiber: 4g
- Vitamin A: 300% DV (an outstanding source for vision and immunity)
- Vitamin C: 30% DV (a good source for skin health and antioxidants)
Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate based on standard ingredient calculations and may vary slightly based on exact brands, portion sizes, and preparation methods. This is intended for general guidance only and not medical advice.
FAQ
Got questions about this delightful sweet potato soup recipe? We have concise answers to help you out, ensuring you have all the information you need
Can I make this sweet potato soup vegan?
Yes, absolutely! Simply swap the chicken stock for vegetable broth and omit the sour cream, or use a plant-based alternative like full-fat coconut milk for creaminess.
Can I use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock?
Yes, vegetable broth works perfectly and makes the soup suitable for vegetarian diets. It will yield a slightly lighter, yet still delicious, flavor profile.
How can I make the soup spicier?
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, a dash of your favorite hot sauce, or even a small roasted jalapeño to the blender for an extra kick in your creamy sweet potato soup.
What other vegetables can be roasted with sweet potatoes?
Carrots, butternut squash, parsnips, or even a red bell pepper can be roasted alongside the sweet potatoes for added flavor and complexity in your blend.
How long does homemade sweet potato soup last?
Stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this homemade sweet potato soup remains fresh and flavorful for about 5-7 days for optimal enjoyment.
Is it okay to blend the soup with skins on?
Yes, you can absolutely leave the sweet potato skins on for added fiber, nutrients, and a slightly rustic texture. Just ensure you wash them thoroughly before roasting for cleanliness.
Can I use frozen sweet potatoes for this recipe?
While fresh is best for roasting flavor, you can use frozen sweet potato chunks. Thaw them first, then pat them very dry before tossing with oil and spices to ensure proper caramelization.
Conclusion
This incredible sweet potato soup recipe truly highlights the natural sweetness and comforting qualities of perfectly roasted sweet potatoes, creating a bowl that is both deeply flavorful and incredibly satisfying. Its ease of preparation makes it ideal for home cooks of all skill levels, delivering big on taste without a lot of fuss or complicated steps. Give this simple yet satisfying roasted sweet potato soup a try; it’s sure to become a cherished, healthy favorite in your kitchen repertoire.
