SWEET POTATO SOUP

I first saw this recipe in a Southern Living Magazine a year or two ago.

2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
1 cup roughly chopped carrots
1 tbsp chopped garlic
3 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
7 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp salted butter
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup torn fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves


Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrots; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add all potatoes, salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper; cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Add the chicken stock to the Dutch oven and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are very tender, about half an hour.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring often, until toasted, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Transfer the potato mixture, in batches, to a blender. Remove center of lid to allow steam to escape; secure lid on blender and place a clean towel over the opening. Process until mixture is smooth. If you have one, you can replace the blender step by using an immersion blender in the Dutch oven.

Top each serving with 2 tablespoons pecans, 1 tablespoon yogurt, and 1/2 tablespoon parsley.

Yield: 8 servings.