Carrot Soup With Star Anise Food

CARROT SOUP WITH STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, thyme, 3 star anise, bay leaves, and garlic. Sauté until onion softens, about 5 minutes. Add carrots and broth. Bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until carrots are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove and discard thyme sprigs, star anise, and bay leaves. Working in small batches, puree soup in blender until very smooth; return to same pot. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, cover, and chill. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)
• Finely grind remaining star anise in spice mill or coffee grinder. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with ground star anise.
• *Brown, star-shaped seedpods; available at some supermarkets, Asian markets, and specialty foods stores.

CARROT-STAR ANISE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Saute chopped carrots and onion in the hot oil, 10 to 15 minutes. Add water slowly, adjusting so that the vegetables are just covered. Add star anise, chicken bouillon, and coriander and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer, about 40 minutes.
• Remove star anise. Puree soup with an immersion blender to desired consistency. Garnish with thyme and marjoram and serve hot.

CREAMY CARROT SOUP WITH STAR ANISE

Steps:

• In large stock pot over medium heat melt the butter. Add chopped onion, 3 star anise, bay leaves and garlic. Saute until the onion starts to soften and glisten, about 5 minutes.
• Add the carrots and fresh stock. Cover, bring to boil and simmer until carrots are very tender, approximately 30 minutes.
• Remove star anise and bay leaves. Using an immersion blender puree the soup until very smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Take the remaining star anise and grind to a fine powder. Stir a little into the soup. Adjust seasoning and add more star anise to taste. Stir in the fresh minced chives.
• Serve hot.

CARROT/FRUIT SOUP SANS STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add onion, thyme, bay leaves, and garlic.
• Sauté until onion softens, about 5 minutes.
• Add carrots, tomato, celery, and broth.
• Bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until carrots are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Add fruit last 10 minutes of cooking.
• Remove and discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves.
• Working in small batches, puree soup in blender until very smooth; return to same pot.
• Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead.
• Cool slightly, cover, and chill.
• Rewarm over low heat before continuing.
• Ladle soup into bowls.
• Sprinkle with ground cinnamon or float cinnamon stick on soup.