Warming winter parsnip soup

It is a rainy and chilly September day here in Sheffield so I am cracking into a yummy, hearty and tasty soup which is perfect to warm you up and fight off autumn sniffles. All the vegetables are easy to buy locally or even grow if you are slightly more capable in the garden than I am!

Start by chopping 2 small white onions, as this soup uses a blender I just peel then quarter the onions then pop into a large pan with a teeny amount of olive oil, switch the heat up to medium high setting and then add 4 sliced small potatoes (small normal potatoes not baby or new potatoes!) let the onion and potato heat up and cook a little, whilst they do crush 2 cloves of garlic and some red chilli (you can use as much or as little as you like dependant on how spicy you like your meals).

Add the garlic and chilli and continue to sauté for a couple of minutes so the potatoes become soft and much more easy to cook. Garlic and chilli are great for winter foods as not only do they warm you right up but have brilliant health properties. Garlic is helps to improve your body’s absorption of iron which is excellent for Vegans and Coeliacs alike and especially for those of us who are both. Garlic is also known to boost cardio and circulatory health and is a good source of selenium. Chilli contains huge amount of vitamins including vitamins A, C and E and is great for fighting congestion – nature’s alternative to a lemsip!

Next slice 2 large parsnips and 2 medium sized carrots and add to the pan with 1 and a half pints of boiling water and a stock cube, Kallo do great gluten free, vegan stock cubes which I am a little in love with…

Turn the heat down to a medium setting and allow to simmer until all the vegetables are soft which usually takes between an hour and an hour and a half. Blend the soup using either a hand held or stand alone blender.

I love this soup just as it is but if you prefer a more aromatic flavour chopped coriander is a really tasty addition. Alternatively if you like a creamy soup a little soya cream will change things right up.