Mollie Katzen’s Gypsy Soup

Gypsy soup is packed full of the incredibly delicious combination of sweet potatoes, chickpeas and kale. The rusty color of the broth comes from a combination of tomato, paprika and turmeric with sweet basil thrown in for good measure.

It’s a deeply nourishing elixir that I could feel coursing through my body into my bones making me feel instantly warmer and healthier. It lifted my spirits and rejuvenated me when I didn’t realize I felt bad to begin with! I can’t help but love a soup like that. I’m convinced it has magical properties. Magical, healing properties.

Try this if you’re feeling under the weather or just need a little pick-me-up. It works wonders for the body, mind and soul!

Gypsy Soup

(adapted from Moosewood Cookbook Classics)

2 -3 tablespoons olive oil

2 large yellow onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 stalk celery, diced

2 large sweet potatoes, diced

1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt

1/3 cup tomato sauce

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon basil

a dash of cinnamon

a dash of cayenne

1 bay leaf

4 cups vegetable broth or water

1 (14 ounce) can chick peas, drained and rinsed

2 cups kale leaves, torn into bite size pieces, stems removed

1. In a soup pot or large saucepan heat the olive oil and saute onion, garlic and celery over medium-low heat until tender. Add sweet potato and salt; saute 3-4 more minutes.

2. Add seasonings, tomato, broth, chickpeas and kale. Bring to a boil and simmer slowly for 25 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender. Taste halfway through and adjust seasonings if needed. Remove bay leaf before serving. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Printable Recipe

I’m linking this to Chaya of My Sweet and Savory for Meatless Mondays and to Deb of Kahakai Kitchen for her Souper (Soup, Salad, Sammie) Sundays event.

The winner of the Tassimo T20 is Raina of Garden of Yum and the winner of the Natural Vines giveaway is Emily Z. of EZ’s Recipes. Congratulations to Raina and Emily Z. and thank you all for entering!

Comments

Deb in Hawaii says:

01/02/2011 at

Yum–such a pretty soup and it looks so good. I have most of the Moosewood books and I am going to have to try this soup. Thanks for sending it to Souper Sundays. ;-)

Magic of Spice says:

12/30/2010 at

I am absolutely in love with this soup and all of these gorgeous flavors :)Congrats to your winners :)

Joy Stevenson says:

12/29/2010 at

What a great soup! I have put a link to it on my facebook Comfort Food page!

Katherine Hartel says:

12/29/2010 at

I was cooking this soup tonight from memory and had forgotten the spices that needed to be added ~ Google directed me to your blog. Thanks so very much for having this recipe be available. I love your blog! I'm having it with chunks of feta cheese and rye crisp crackers on the side.

Lucie says:

12/28/2010 at

I love the color of your soup–it just screams hearty and definitely tasty!