Spicy Parsnip Soup

I have a confession to make.....I absolutely love a particular brand of tinned Spicy Parsnip Soup...Ok well there is no point hiding it, it's Baxters Spicy Parsnip Soup! It is yet one more thing that is always on my list of foods to have when I am back home in Scotland! I guess it's not a bad confession, after all there is nothing wrong with buying tinned soups, I just always have a niggle about doing so, especially when it is so unbelievably easy to make your own at home! So that is eventually what I started doing....and now I don't know why it took me so long to do so!

All that this soup requires is a little chopping, sauteing and stirring and within 30 minutes you have a big pot of completely delicious soup that is both sweet and spicy at the same time and so warming and nourishing. And best of all, made by you! Ok so perhaps opening a tin of soup and heating it up takes less than 30 minutes but seriously there is no comparison at all in the flavour department, so my advice – set aside a little extra time and make yourself an amazing meal that will have you throwing away the tinned stuff!

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, roughly chopped

1lb (that's the weight once they have been peeled and trimmed) parsnips peeled and roughly chopped (approx. 625g before trimmed)

1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

¼ tsp ground turmeric

½ tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 heaped tsp curry powder

Pinch of cayenne pepper(optional)

500ml chicken stock

Salt and pepper

400ml milk

Crème fraiche or sour cream to serve

In a large pan melt the butter with the oil. Add the onions and sauté for 5minutes before adding the parsnips, carrot and garlic. Leave to sweat gently for another 5 minutes before adding the turmeric, cumin, coriander, curry powder and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook on a low heat for 10 minutes before adding the stock and seasoning. Cook for 10-15 minutes until all the vegetables are soft. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly before blending.

Once blended and smooth add the milk and gently reheat before serving. When ready to serve top with a spoonful of crème fraiche or sour cream and an extra little sprinkle of curry powder. Delicious!