Smoky Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup

Pack this smoky Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup in your lunch, or come home to a warm bowl on a chilly day. Serve with crispy polenta croutons and toasted sage leaves for a special meal. Paleo and vegan.
Is there anything better than a simple bowl of warm soup on a cool day? Think of it as a culinary hug. This smoky Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup has all the elements we crave in the fall and winter months:   rich warm colour, smooth velvety texture, and a satisfying earthy spiciness. Colour, texture and taste aside, this soup is a powerhouse of nutrition.

Sweet potatoes are low on the glycemic index scale and have very high levels of Vitamin A and fiber. While they contain more natural sugars than white potatoes, overall they have more nutrients and fewer calories. Despite their nutritional benefits, I just like the way they taste.

The first time I made this Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup, I was generous with the chipotle peppers, adding two full peppers and one tablespoon of the sauce. Bad idea. It was so spicy that it overpowered the flavour of the sweet potatoes. I held off the next two times, repeating my flavouring mantra:   you can always add more later if you need it, but you can't take it away!

Let's talk about these crispy polenta croutons. I discovered them topped on a chilled watermelon-tomato gazpacho at a local restaurant this summer. I loved their crisp texture and vowed to figure out how to make them at home.

They're so easy! I used store-bought prepared polenta (the kind that comes in a roll), sliced and chopped it into cubes, tossed it with a little cornstarch and salt and pepper and fried it in a couple of teaspoons of butter. I love toasted sage leaves, and always make them when I make this Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Spicy Pumpkin Seeds, so I added a few of these to each bowl as well.

Why should you make soup?

• It's an easy way to add more vegetables into your diet. Making food from scratch allows you to control what's in the food your feed yourself and your family.
• Soup is quick to make and can be simmering on the stove or in a slow cooker while you prepare the rest of your meal.
• It's convenient. Double the recipe and freeze half for another meal.
• It's filling. Soup contains a lot of water, so it makes us feel full without adding extra unnecessary calories.
• A bowl of soup has to be eaten slowly, encouraging us to savour each spoonful and eat mindfully. It's comforting.

Smoky Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup with Polenta Croutons and Toasted Sage Leaves

Pack a container of this healthy smoky Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup in your lunch, or come home after work to a warm bowl. Serve with crispy polenta croutons and/or toasted sage leaves.

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Course: Soup

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Servings: 6 to 8 servings

Calories: 127kcal

Author: Flavour & Savour

Ingredients

• 2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 - 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce plus 1 - 2 teaspoons sauce (depending on how much heat you like)
• 6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
• salt and pepper

For Optional Garnishes

Polenta Croutons (not paleo)

• 6 1/2 inch slices prepared polenta (store-bought)
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp butter
• 1/2 tsp salt

Toasted Sage Leaves

• 12 leaves fresh sage (or more)
• 1 tsp oil

Instructions

• Heat a large pot over medium heat and add oil.
• When hot, add chopped onion. Sauté until transparent, but don't let them brown.
• Add garlic and sauté briefly.
• Add chopped sweet potatoes (I sliced mine into 1/4 inch slices so they would cook quickly), chipotle pepper an adobo sauce and vegetable or chicken stock.
• Simmer until sweet potatoes are tender.
• Purée in batches in a blender until smooth.
• Serve, garnished with toppings of your choice:
• To make the polenta croutons, slice store-bought polenta (the kind that comes in a log) and dice into 1/2-inch cubes. Toss with cornstarch and salt. Fry in butter in a small skillet, turning until all sides are crispy and lightly browned.
• To make toasted sage leaves, heat oil in a small skillet. Add leaves and toast until they turn very dark green and become crisp. Remove and drain on a rack.
• Garnish soup bowls with sage leaves and/or polenta croutons. Serve immediately.

Notes

This soup freezes well. Transfer to a freezer container, leaving at least one inch of headroom, label and freeze.

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcal

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If you like this smoky Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup, try these other healthy soup recipes too.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Family Favourite Carrot-Ginger Soup

Miso Noodle Soup with Mushrooms and Greens

This month I participated in a collaboration with other Canadian food bloggers through the Canadian Food Creatives. The theme was ‘Soups and Stews: Warm Comforting Dishes for the Impending Winter Months" chosen by our host Diana of 365 Days of Easy Recipes. Check out the links below to see everyone else’s creations! #cdnfoodcreatives

• Roasted Chicken Minestrone Soup by My Kitchen Love
• Cream of Spinach Soup by I Say Nomato
• Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup with Polenta Croutons by Flavour and Savour
• Creamy Carrot Orange Soup with Cashews by Making Healthy Choices
• Roasted Butternut Squash Ginger Pear Soup by She Loves Biscotti

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