Sweet Potato Courgette Soup (Low GI + Vegan)
Caroline Sciberras
Nothing feels better than this warm hearty sweet potato courgette soup when your energy levels are low and you want a quick nutritious meal for the family.
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Lunch
Cuisine American, Mediterranean
Servings 8
Calories 440.02 kcal
- 1 medium carrots chopped
- 1 small red onions chopped
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium sweet potato chopped
- 500 ml water
- 800 g chickpeas / garbanzo beans (2 tins)
- 1 large courgette chopped
- ¼ tsp salt
In a pan over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add chopped onions and cook until slightly translucent, about 8 minutes.
Stir in garlic, carrots, sweet potatoes, and courgette. Cook for an additional 10 minutes until vegetables are softened.
Add chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and water to the pan. Season with salt and stir well. Let the mixture simmer for 25 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Transfer the cooked mixture to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Optionally, garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve the soup hot with toasted bread on the side.
A few years ago, when my daughter was about one year old, she suddenly refused all baby food, leaving me uneasy about her limited snack diet of crackers, porridge, cheese, fries, and carrots. Seeking a nutritious solution with protein and hidden veggies, I struggled to find suitable soups; most lacked protein. Then, I stumbled upon a recipe which I tweaked by adding chickpeas, making it creamier and more nourishing.
Variations and Ingredient Substitutions
Creamy Coconut: Substitute water with coconut milk. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes for added texture.
Spice Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, turmeric or a dash of curry powder for a kick of heat and depth of flavor.
Protein Boost: Enhance the protein content by stirring in cooked quinoa, lentils, or tofu cubes before serving.
Add Greens: Incorporate leafy greens like spinach or kale for an extra nutrient boost. Blend them with the soup for a vibrant green hue.
Mediterranean Taste: Finish the soup with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice to brighten the flavors.
Gut Friendly: Omit the garlic, onions and reduce the chickpeas/garbanzo beans to 1 tin (400g)
Tips & Tricks for the Sweet Potato Courgette Soup
Cooking this soup is really easy. It's simply a matter of peeling and chopping all the veggies. Then after frying them with some olive oil, we add water and let them simmer for around half an hour. I usually take around 45 minutes to cook and serve but it's basically 15 minutes of cooking and for the last 30 minutes you just set the timer so that you remember to remove it from the burner while doing other tasks.
If you have a slow cooker or a kitchen appliance such as Thermomix or Monsieur Cuisine, you just need to peel the vegetables and then program your kitchen assistant.
Keyword carrot, chickpeas, Courgette, Garbanzo Beans, Red Onion, sweet potato, Zucchini