Carrot Soup With Star Anise Food

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-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.

CARROT SOUP WITH STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add onion, thyme, 3 star anise (SEE NOTE BELOW), 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.
• NOTE: Brown, star-shaped seedpods; available at some supermarkets, Asian markets, and specialty foods stores.

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-GINGER SOUP WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion and ginger and cook until the vegetables are just soft, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the star anise, carrot juice and 3 cups water, then cover and boil until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes. Mix the cornstarch and curry powder on a shallow plate and season with salt. Pat the tofu dry and roll it in the cornstarch mixture. Heat the remaining 6 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the tofu and fry, turning, until golden and crisp on all sides, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• Discard the star anise. Transfer the soup to a blender and puree in batches, or puree directly in the pot with an immersion blender. Thin with water, if needed, and season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with the fried tofu. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

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.

CREAMY BROCCOLI CARROT SOUP

Steps:

• Prepare vegetables.
• In large sauce pan, heat oil.
• Add onions,celery and garlic.
• Sauté on medium-low heat about 5 minutes stirring occasionally. If necessary add a little water to prevent sticking.
• Add potatoes, carrots and broth to sautéed vegetables.Bring to a boil. and simmer 20 minutes uncovered.
• Add cauliflower and red pepper.
• Simmer another another 15- 20 minutes vegetables are tender; add fresh herbs.
• Pureé with hand blender or potato masher to break up vegetables; leave the soup chunky.
• Add milk, Harissa, salt and pepper to taste.
• At this point you can more or less milk depending on how thick you want to have your soup.
• Tip:.
• I used Carnation no fat milk.
• Reheats and freezes well.
• You can replace the cauliflower with broccoli for a different version.

MILK CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO WITH STAR ANISE CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Make the semifreddo
• 1. Put the chocolate in a heatproof glass bowl and melt slowly in the microwave. Alternatively, you can set the bowl over a pan of simmering water (don't let the bowl touch the water) and stir until the chocolate is completely melted and just warm. Set aside.
• 2. Using a handheld electric mixer, whip the cream in a medium bowl until it forms soft peaks; set aside.
• 3. Combine the egg whites and sugar in a heat-proof bowl and place over a pan of simmering water. Whisk continually until the whites are just hot, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. Beat the egg white-sugar mixture with a handheld electric mixer until stiff peaks form and the egg whites are shiny and glossy, 3 to 5 minutes.
• 4. Fold the cream into the melted chocolate, then carefully fold the meringue into the chocolate mixture. Pour the chocolate mixture into a 9 x 13-inch pan and put in the freezer until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight until frozen.
• Make the cake
• 1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Combine the eggs, oil, sugar, salt, flour, star anise, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Mix until just incorporated; add the carrots.
• 2. Line an 8 X 4-inch (or 4-cup) loaf pan with parchment or use a nonstick baking pan. Pour the cake batter into the pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until the center springs back when lightly touched.
• 3. When cool enough to handle, unmold onto a baking rack (run a small knife around the edges if necessary to release the cake from the pan) and let cool. Cut into 2-inch slices then cut each slice in half and set aside.
• Make the soup
• In a small saucepan, heat the carrot juice over medium heat, then add the cornstarch, and whisk until the carrot juice mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Chill for 1 hour or until cold. Season with sugar and salt to taste.
• To serve
• Ladle a small amount of carrot soup in a shallow bowl. Place 5 to 8 carrot cake pieces on top of the carrot soup. Place 3 to 4 small scoops of the chocolate semifreddo on top the carrot cake. Garnish with carrot greens, if desired.