A comforting curried parsnip and sweet potato soup with a gorgeous flavour and a warmth from the spices. Perfect for cold days.
Easy Curried Parsnip & Sweet Potato Soup
Sometimes when I make a pot of soup, I just want simple flavours, but sometimes I want it to pack a punch with flavours and some warmth from spices too.
That's where this easy curried parsnip and sweet potato comes in.
It has a sweet, earthy flavour from the root vegetables and a hug from the warming spices.
Generally, I like to keep my soups chunky, but this one I like to blend for a thick, filling soup to warm the bones on a chilly day in winter or a crisp day in autumn (fall).
I do hope you try it!
What you need to make this curried root vegetable soup
Here are the simple ingredients you need to make this curried parsnip soup, which is a warming hug of a soup.
- olive oil - or rapeseed oil
- garlic - you can add more if you like
- fresh ginger - but you could use ground ginger if that's all you have
- red chilli - I go for a mild chilli pepper or chilli powder
- cumin seeds
- coriander seeds
- ground turmeric
- parsnips
- sweet potatoes
- mango chutney - it adds a wonderful flavour
- lime juice - from a fresh lime
- water - or vegetable stock
- salt & black pepper - to season
If you like a creamy soup, you can add coconut milk or cream once it is blended.
Blend the soup with an electric stick blender (immersion blender) while the soup is in the pot, but heat is turned off.
Be careful when blending hot soup in a blender or food processor; it's much safer to let it cool a bit first.
You will find the full printable recipe card at the bottom of the page, keep reading, scroll down or use the jump to recipe button at the top of the page.
Chilli peppers or chilli powder
I use fresh chilli for this soup, but you can use chilli powder or chilli flakes (red pepper flakes) instead.
The heat level is up to you.
For fresh chillies you can choose a mild, medium hot, hot or blow your head off hot.
Chilli peppers come in a range of heat levels, they even have a name for the scale of heat, it's called the Scoville scale.
As a rule of thumb or rule of chilli, usually the bigger the chiller the milder and the smaller you go the hotter they get.
Of course, you can get mild and hot chilli powder too.
To remove some of the heat from fresh chillies, remove the seeds as a lot of the heat is in the seeds.
An easy way to peel fresh ginger root
Now, a wee pro tip for you to try (you may already know) next time you are peeling some fresh ginger.
Fresh ginger root is a gnarly, lumpy spice and can be awkward to peel with a vegetable peeler (or potato peeler).
You end up losing way too much ginger with the peel.
The trick is to scrap the skin off with a teaspoon.
It super easy and you only lose the skin. Do try it and you will see what I mean.
Serving a curried soup
Soup can be served as it is, of course, with no toppings and nothing on the side and it is very nice, it is too, but here are a few ideas for toppings and what to serve on the side of this easy soup.
Curried soup toppings
- Croutons - homemade or shop-bought
- Fresh herbs - fresh coriander / fresh cilantro is a good option (or a pinch of dried herbs)
- Seeds - just a sprinkle
- Parsnip crisps - try this recipe for easy parsnip crisps, but use maple syrup instead of honey for a plant-based verion
- Swirl of cream
- Crumbled vegan feta
- Drizzle of olive oil
- Bombay mix
- Vegan parmesan
What to serve with curried soup
- Crusty bread
- Garlic bread - try this quick air fryer garlic bread
- Onion bhaji wrap - it's gorgeous and works well with a curried soup
- A side salad - always a good option
- Onion bhajis - or these easy crispy vegetable bhajis (cook in an airfryer or the oven)
- Sandwich - try this Bombay cheese sandwich
- Toastie - an onion bhaji, feta and mango chutney toastie or grilled cheese
- Flatbread - try this black olive farinata, which is made with chickpea flour (gram flour)
- Spicy lentil sausage rolls
I'm sure you will have some good ideas too!
How long will it keep
Once cool, keep the soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 - 4 days and reheat to serve.
Freeze in dated and labelled freezer soup bags or freezer tubs for 3 - 4 months.
To defrost. pop in the fridge overnight, then reheat to serve.
It's perfect to take to work or school in a flask for a hot lunch.
Yield: 4-6

Easy Curried Parsnip & Sweet Potato Soup with Ginger
A comforting curried parsnip and sweet potato soup with a gorgeous flavour and a warmth from the spices. Perfect for cold days.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 40 Min
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped,
- 1 red chilli, finely chopped (remove the seeds for less heat)
- 2 cm (about ½ inch) piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 6 parsnips, peeled and chopped
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1 heaped teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 tablespoons mango chutney
- 1½ litres (6 ⅓ cups) water (or vegetable stock)
- juice of 1 lime
- salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a small pan and dry roast the cumin and coriander seeds then roughly crush in a mortar and pestle or whizz in a blender.
- Heat the oil in large pan and when hot add the spices and allow to sizzle for 1 minute. Add the onion, garlic, chilli and ginger and cook for 5 minutes, on a medium heat until softened.
- Add the parsnips and sweet potatoes and cook for another few minutes. Add a splash of water before adding the turmeric to stop it sticking to the bottom of the pan. Stir well and then add the mango chutney and the water.
- Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 - 25 minutes until the parsnips and potatoes are tender. Stir in the lime juice.
- Spoon out a few of the vegetable to decorate the soup with and then whizz the rest of the soup until fairly smooth.
- Taste to check the seasoning.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- I use water as there are already a lot of flavours going on, but you can add vegetable stock if you prefer.
- Once cool, keep the soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 - 4 days and reheat to serve.
- Freeze in dated and labelled freezer soup bags or freezer tubs for 3 - 4 months.To defrost. pop in the fridge overnight, then reheat to serve.
calories
4 servings - 315 calories per serving
5 servings - 252 calories per serving
6 servings - 210 calories per serving
Nutrition Facts
Calories
210Fat (grams)
3 gSat. Fat (grams)
0 gCarbs (grams)
59 gFiber (grams)
12 gNet carbs
47 gSugar (grams)
17 gProtein (grams)
4 gSodium (milligrams)
128 mgCholesterol (grams)
0 mgAll Rights Reserved Tinned Tomatoes




Wow Holler, your soup really sounds power packed with tons of flavor!!! Having the parsnip and sweet potato, I bet it has a sweet touch to it! Yum!
ReplyDeleteIt was rather sweet Deb, but spicy too!
ReplyDeleteLooks like rib sticking stuff! :)
ReplyDeleteI made my entry today too. Will post later in the week. I have until Thursday, right?
Wow! That is one soup I would be sure to enjoy! Good choice for your submission Holler.
ReplyDeleteI was rib sticking and it was a chilly day, so it was great with some crusty bread!
ReplyDeleteThursday is fine, Wendy!
Thanks Lisa!
Ack! Four days!
ReplyDeleteI made my soup, the camera is giving me grief... going up soon...
Hey Tadmack, Oh no! Not the new camera! Argh! I will cross my fingers! Maybe it is just tired!
ReplyDeleteHello Marmite Hater :P Great looking soup and I'm looking forward to the next round up.
ReplyDeleteGood luck if you do try my suggested spicy soup- you may want to go easy on the dried chilli at first depending on how spicy you like your soup. For me, it was perfect but for my brit hubby his mouth was on fire.
Curried vegetable soups are good. I like the use of the mango chutney in this one. The sweetness of the sweet potatoes would balance the spiciness nicely.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever had parsnips before-they arent easily purchased here in the states but I am on my way to the grocer to see if they have some. I also want to make some parsnip pancakes. I think this is the best spice soup so far as I can tell for the contest.
ReplyDeleteHi Pixie, I am proud to be known thus forth as the Marmite Hater! Bleuch!
ReplyDeleteI think I may be in the same category as your husband as far as chilli is concerned!
Hey Kevin, I just had to use some of my Hot Mango Chutney!
Hi Jan, Thanks! Parsnips are very traditional here, especially at Christmas when we love to roast them!
This soup probably tastes as good as it looks Holler:D
ReplyDeleteHello Val, it was a nice change and I had some cheap parsnips to use up. As many of my winter soups are, it was lovely and thick, a meal in itself!
ReplyDeleteI'm really liking the idea of chutney as a flavoring in soup! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisarene! I think it would be nice to add a little just as a topping, added before serving.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of adding mango chutney - that would have given some flavour! And it reminds me I must make more of parsnips this winter! (Have sent you my soup - once I got over the chillis I loved this challenge and even got to use a chilli from a friend's garden
ReplyDeleteLooks like a hearty and tasty soup! I also really like the addition of the mango chutney to the mix
ReplyDeleteHi Johanna, I am glad you joined in! Do you feel any better about chilli now? It was good, getting some from your friend's garden!
ReplyDeleteHi Mike, I think it would be good dolloped on top of a soup as well! My hot mango chutney is quite sweet though!
ReplyDeleteSoup's up - and it wasn't the camera that was the problem, but my computer. Camera is very happy, still. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Davimack Thanks for the soup! I am glad the camera is ok, I panicked there for a minute! Phew!
ReplyDeleteGreat combo. I like the idea of adding in some mango chutney.
ReplyDeletefelt great about the chilli once it was in but have a wee mental block when it comes to food that bites back!
ReplyDeleteOoh - I could really do with a bowl of this soup right now. It seems to have gone so chilly again!
ReplyDeleteBet it was delicious - it looks a really perfect consistency too.
Mmmmmmm - much yumminess!
ReplyDeleteBetter get my skates on and get my entry in :-)
Sorry YHCC, I am vegetarian, so I won't be linking.
ReplyDeleteHi A Forkful of Spaghetti, I had just opened a jar of my mango chutney and was inspired to add some!
Hey, it was a step forward Johanna!
Hi Antonia, Roll on Summer, I say!
I await it with anticipation Jen!
Your soup looks glorious. I tried a parsnip garam masala soup that was so sweet, I couldn't even eat it. Sorry I won't be able to be part of the roundup this month. I can't wait to try everyone else's though!
ReplyDeleteThey are looking good, Ruth!
ReplyDeleteI can't remember ever eating parsnips, but this soups and looks awesome! Especially with the sweet potato, yum.
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ReplyDeleteI love your recipes & this will be delish, but wish you gave weights, parsnips can be teeny tiny ones or great stonkers!
ReplyDeleteIt's to save weighing. Medium are fine. Add more of small or less if huge. If you put extra in, it will still taste gorgeous.
ReplyDelete