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You are here: Home / Recipes / Soup / Carrot and cumin soup and a 66 Square Feet recipe book giveaway

Carrot and cumin soup and a 66 Square Feet recipe book giveaway

by Jeanne Horak on January 31, 2014 57 Comments in Soup, Vegetarian

CarrotCuminSoupTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2014

There’s a wonderful Afrikaans poem called Sproeireën by DJ Opperman that starts:

My nooi is in ‘n nartjie,
my ouma in kaneel,
daar’s iemand …. iemand in anys,
daar’s ‘n vrou in elke geur!

Roughly translated, this reads: “My sweetheart is in a clementine; my grandma is in cinnamon; there’s somebody… somebody in anise; there’s a woman in every scent”.  I’ve always loved the idea that a memory of somebody you love is inextricably linked to a spicy scent.  Research has shown that scent is the sense that evoked the strongest memories and it is easy to imagine the poet absentmindedly peeling a nartjie and being suddenly reminded of his beloved. For me, the cinnamon spice smells of hot cross buns toasting always brings back vividly our Easter family holidays in Plettenberg Bay.  I’d come back from my early morning beach walk to a house filled with laughter, family, friends and the smell of hot cross buns toasting for breakfast.  Even nearly twenty years later on a rainy London Sunday the smell can bring back this memory so vividly as to bring tears to my eyes.  

Although I did not realise it when I was growing up, my mom clearly had a thing for 1960s and 1970s Scandi design.  There was the Arabia Ruska crockery that we ate off every night; the Holmegaard wine glasses,  and mounted on the wall above the stove was the thing that me friends found the most fascinating: a Danish Digsmed spice wheel.  This iconic design consisted of a central teak wheel with glass spice bottles arranged around the perimeter, their lids permanently attached to the central wheel.  To access a spice, all you had to do was spin it around to the 6 o’clock position and unscrew the bottle – and it made for a fabulous piece of functional kitchen art.  As kids, my brother and I were intrigued by this wheel and we would spend hours unscrewing each bottle in turn and sniffing the contents curiously, allowing ourselves to be transported off to foreign lands by the exotic smells within.

 

Cumin © J Horak-Druiff 2014

 

I think our wheel had come pre-loaded with spices because the first time I smelled cumin was from one of those glass bottles attached to the spice wheel, and yet I have no recollection of my mom ever cooking with it.  Cumin is the seed of a small annual herb called Cuminum cyminum which is native to the areas of Northern Africa and Eastern and Central Asia. This probably explains its prevalence in the cuisines of these regions rather than in Westermn European or Southern African cuisine.  A quick investigation into the origins of the name “cumin” reveals this spice’s ancient use:  the English word “cumin” derives from the Old English cymen; which comes from the Latin cuminum; which is the Latinised version of the Greek kuminon (related to the Hebrew kammon and Arabic kammun); and the ultimate source is said to be the Sumerian word gamun.  Cumin is  is a member of the plant family which includes both the parsley and the carrot – which might explain its affinity for carrots.

This deceptively simple carrot and cumin soup is a wonderful combination of sweet, salty and tangy flavours that both Nick and I have fallen in love with.  The cumin lends a warm spice; the citrus juices provide a zesty spike, and the carrots themselves provide a sweet earthiness. The recipe comes from my new favourite cookbook, namels 66 Square Feet, written by the fabulous Marie Viljoen (and which I previously reviewed here).  Marie describes herself as having been born in Bloemfontein, come of age in Cape Town, and grown up in New York. She and her French husband Vincent and their “beeg blag Dominican cad” Estorbo live, cook, photograph, picnic, garden and forage in New York City.  Her book name derives from her blog name 66 Square Feet, which comes from the footprint of their tiny but very productive apartment terrace in Brooklyn.

 

66SquareFeetBookCover © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

The book is divided into 12 chapters (one for each month) and charts a year of eating, drinking and living in New York City.  Each chapter opens with a glorious double page photo of New York City and an evocative piece on what it is like to live in the city in that particular month; followed by a description of what the terrace is like at that time together with a couple of recipes inspired by the markets or the terrace. Following that, each month’s chapter contains five seasonal recipes that you can cook separately or put together as a relaxed dinner party menu. The photos (by Marie and Vincent) are stunning, and recipes achievable and satisfying.  Terrace-sourced recipes like squash and Bibb lettuce salad; or gazpacho soup rub shoulders with classics Terence Hill’s beans, baby back ribs, and Concord grape granita.  You will find yourself reading the book chapter by chapter, rationing yourself to one a day to stretch the pleasure out. It’s that kind of book.  Even for those with only a passing interest in cooking, it provides a wonderfully intimate peek into life in one of the world’s most iconic cities and is a beautiful book to treasure.

And the good news is that this week I am giving away a copy of Marie’s book 66 Square Feet to one lucky reader of Cooksister.com! Please scroll to the bottom of this page for competition terms and conditions and a link to the Rafflecopter widget where you can enter for your chance to win!

 

CarrotCuminSoupFinal © J Horak-Druiff 2014

4.5 from 8 reviews
Carrot and cumin soup from "66 Square Feet"
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
40 mins
Total time
55 mins
 
This easy-to-make creamy, comforting soup is given a spicy warmth by cumin and lifted by the addition of citrus flavours.
Author: Jeanne Horak-Druiff
Recipe type: Soup
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Serves: 6 as a starter
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 extra large carrots, peeled and sliced (about 650g or 4-5 cups of chopped carrots)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tsp ground cumin plus extra for dusting
  • 1 tsp ground coriander seed
  • 250 ml (1 cup) orange juice
  • 1.25 litres (5 cups) chicken or vegetable stock
  • 100ml sour cream plus extra for serving
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the olive oil, Sauté the carrots, onions and garlic until the onions are translucent and pale gold - should take about 10-12 minutes.
  2. Add the cumin and coriander, stir to coat the vegetables and allow a minute or two to cook. Add the orange juice and stock and bring to a simmer. Simmer until a knife can easily pierce the carrots - about 15 -20 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly, then use an immersion blender (or transfer the soup to a blender) and blend until it is smooth (or chunky!) enough for your taste. Return the soup to the heat.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk the sour cream to loosen it a little, then add a ladeful of hot soup to the cream and mix well - this will stop the sour cream curdling when you add it to the hot soup. Stir the cream mixture back into the soup and mix well.
  5. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper as necessary. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and bring the soup bring back to a simmer before serving, taking care not to boil it as the cream can separate.
  6. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve topped with a swirl of sour cream and a dusting of cumin.
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

66 SQUARE FEET BOOK GIVEAWAY RULES:

1. This giveaway is only open to residents of South Africa, the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland aged 18 years or older.

2. There will be a single prize in the form of a one hardback copy of 66 Sqyare Feet by Marie Viljoen.

3. The prize may not be exchanged for cash.

4. Entry will take place only through Rafflecopter, via the link above. Once you have completed your first entry and left me a comment confirming this in the comments section of this post, you will also have the option of submitting further entries via Twitter and Facebook, increasing your chances of winning.

5. All entries will be verified – if you have not commented or followed as required, I will check and you WILL be disqualified.

6. The deadline for entries is midnight UK time on Monday 10 February 2014.

7. The winner will be drawn at random from all verified entries, using randomising software.

8. The winner will be announced on my blog and notified by e-mail within 48 hours of the end of the giveaway. If the winner has not replied after one week from receiving the organiser’s e-mail notifying them of their win, a new winner will be randomly drawn.

Here are some more tips that you might find useful:

  • Click here for a tutorial how to enter giveaways with Rafflecopter.
  • If your Rafflecopter entry form is not showing, try refreshing the page.
  • You MUST complete the form, otherwise your entries will not be counted.
  • Make sure the mandatory entry (leaving a blog comment) is completed first, and then go back to add additional entries.
  • If you’re viewing this post by email, you will need to click through to the post on my blog to enter.

Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

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  1. Urvashi says

    January 31, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    I completely agree with the research. Scent and smells always remind me of people and places. Cumin always reminds me of Goa and more specifically the beach. On holiday there once we used to walk to a reggae bar on the beach and be greeted with the smell of cumin being basted onto the prawns. Cumin and coriander. Lovely. Will never forget it and I am salivating now thinking of it. In terms of people, frangipane always reminds me of my husband. Not because he wears the scent mind you but because where we first went on holiday in Tioman Island, there were frangipane flowers everywhere we went and it just brings back that romantic time. Thanks for this lovely post. I’m smiling on a dreary evening.

    Reply
  2. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says

    January 31, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    Smell is so important for memory and identification. One of my friends wears the same scent as my mother, which I find really really confusing.

    Lovely recipe. I nearly always pair carrot with coriander so must branch out.

    Reply
  3. Tim Groom says

    January 31, 2014 at 7:37 pm

    Love those spice wheels…and got one here at Borough Market last week with my daughter as a present for her mother in Jo’burg…it came with our own choice of spices

    Reply
  4. Ren Behan says

    January 31, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    Love the texture to that soup and the spice – sounds like an interesting book. Cumin is one of my favourite spices, it adds such a warmth and a great insight into the history of the name.

    Reply
  5. Corina says

    January 31, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    This week I’ve been loving eating cod with a chorizo breadcrumb crust and baked in the oven. Normally it’s not one of my favourite fish though.

    Reply
  6. Krista says

    January 31, 2014 at 11:03 pm

    I can’t enter the giveaway, but I still like this soup very much. 🙂 I usually make carrot soup with dill and roast my carrots with cumin, but I’ve never added cumin to the soup. I will do that soon. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Jan says

    January 31, 2014 at 11:40 pm

    Fried in beer batter!

    Reply
  8. Charlotte says

    February 1, 2014 at 5:00 am

    Sniff. No Germans. Would have loved to have taken part … Nevertheless, lovely post and cooking inspiration, as always.

    Reply
  9. [email protected] says

    February 1, 2014 at 9:42 am

    I agree Jeanne, smell is so important in remembering people. I have the luck of owning my Grandmother’s dining room buffet from 1930. As I have written on my blog when I open the door it smells of the wonderful Negrita rum my Grandmother used in crepes and cake recipes and the sour cornichons she made for my Russian Grandfather, both were kept in the buffet. Immediate images and wonderful memories come from those smells, the sight of the buffet brings tears to my Dad’s eyes everytime he visits.

    Reply
  10. Astrid Bowman says

    February 1, 2014 at 9:52 am

    I’m so excited to try this soup. I saw the pic on Instagram and immediately sent it to my food lover bf! Been waiting for the blog email to come out so I can get to try this. Cumin is such a heart warming and comforting smell and taste. It reminds me of a roti and curry made the Bo-Kaap way. Little bit of home in a smell!

    Reply
  11. Herschelian says

    February 1, 2014 at 11:10 am

    66 Square Feet is a terrific recipe book – but actually so much more than just a recipe book. It is beautifully written with stunning photos. My sister gave me a copy for Christmas and I have already made two dishes from it – one being the carrot and cumin soup you have featured – delicious (I adore anything with cumin in it).

    Reply
  12. Maxine says

    February 1, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Great post!

    I love the smell of rosemary – it evokes such summery feelings and always makes me want to cook Mediterranean dishes with lashings of ripe tomatoes from the garden

    Reply
  13. Jacqueline Meldrum says

    February 1, 2014 at 2:21 pm

    Your soup looks delicious. I do love a carrot soup and I go through so much cumin. It’s definitely my favourite spice.

    Reply
  14. Andrew says

    February 1, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    Thanks for the recipe – been thinking recently that I need to make soup rather than buy those expensive fresh cartons! This has made the list of must-try.

    Love the opening photo by the way – those colours really pop!

    Reply
  15. H Bailey says

    February 1, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    Cumin for me because it is used in so many different cuisines and is versatile in how and what it can be used for. Don’t think we could live without it in our house!

    Reply
  16. Lorna says

    February 2, 2014 at 12:31 am

    The smell which is most evocative for me is cumin. Curry, chilli, soup, beans – I find it almost as hard to cook without cumin as I do without onions!

    Reply
  17. Elaine Dale says

    February 3, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    love the smell of cinnamon

    Reply
  18. Nathan Webb says

    February 3, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    my favourite spice is Chinese 5 spice! Great addition to any quick veggie stir fry!

    Entered onto rafflecopter!

    Reply
  19. jULIE says

    February 3, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    THIS SOUP IS GREAT!

    Reply
  20. katie Kathurima says

    February 3, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    Love the smell of cumin and rosemary

    Reply
  21. Laura Pritchard says

    February 4, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    I love ginger – it always reminds me of my mum’s ginger cake.

    Reply
  22. Guy Edmondson says

    February 4, 2014 at 2:25 pm

    lovely recipe, can’t wait to try it out:)

    Reply
  23. Guy Edmondson says

    February 4, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    ooops, missed the question, favourite spice is nutmeg: memories brought back of a lovely little bakers in my village : made the best custard tarts I’ve ever had (not to mention the vanilla slices…:))

    Reply
  24. Andre Grevelink says

    February 5, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    Hi Jeanne, I love your blog and get many ideas and recipes from it. You really surprised me with your poem from DJ Opperman-“Sproeireen”. It was very apt Regards Andre Grevelink- Witrivier, Mpumalanga

    Reply
  25. Dhesh says

    February 6, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    One of my favourite spices scent-wise is cinnamon.

    Reply
  26. Marie says

    February 6, 2014 at 11:03 pm

    My current favourite spice is dried Persian limes. Bitterish, sourish – they give depth to long- cooked anything.

    Thank you ofr the suport of my book, Jeanne – a great compliment coming from you.

    Reply
  27. Emily C-D says

    February 7, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    Definitely cloves

    Reply
  28. Nazima, franglais kitchen says

    February 7, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    You name some of my favourite spices there. Anise, Cinnamon but Cumin is the one I really could not do without in my savoury cooking. Such a lovely scent and delicate flavour. Perfect for a soup like this.

    Reply
  29. Louise Lumsden says

    February 8, 2014 at 8:02 am

    my favourite spice is cinnamon & I try and find a way to use it as much as possible,it’s a real feel good,warming, happy aroma & flavour, I love it in sweet and savoury dishes.

    Reply
  30. Laura Vitty says

    February 8, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    I love fresh coriander

    Reply
  31. Sheri Darby says

    February 8, 2014 at 2:19 pm

    I love the smell of ginger

    Reply
  32. Rachel Gilbey says

    February 8, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    My favourite herb scent is mint

    Reply
  33. Jessica Edmunds says

    February 8, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    It worked out really well and me and my partner both enjoyed it 🙂

    Reply
  34. Ben A says

    February 8, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    Cumin is absolutely one of my favourite spices – it just enhances meat and vegetable dishes by such a huge amount!

    Reply
  35. Christina Jarrett says

    February 9, 2014 at 6:34 am

    I love garlic!! I use it in everything!! 🙂 x

    Reply
  36. Verna Kirk says

    February 9, 2014 at 7:26 am

    My favourite spice fragrance would have to be clove. It reminds me of Xmas and fantastic family get togethers and the gammon covered with pineapple rings, cherries and the little cloves studded here and there infusing their wonderful fragrance into everything.

    Reply
  37. Pam Francis Gregory says

    February 9, 2014 at 8:12 am

    Looks lovely – Will defo be giving it a go!

    Reply
  38. Pam Francis Gregory says

    February 9, 2014 at 8:14 am

    Missed the question a Rafflecopter is on different page! I use loads of ginger – love it!

    Reply
  39. Susan Freeman says

    February 9, 2014 at 8:35 am

    I love the smell of fresh mint and mixed spices

    Reply
  40. Hayley Todd says

    February 9, 2014 at 10:22 am

    Scents and smells evoke so many memories! It’s amazing that a scent can transport you back in time to a place or event! My favourite herb is rosemary, I think the scent is so comforting and evocative of my childhood.

    Reply
  41. Lauren Old says

    February 9, 2014 at 11:15 am

    My favourite spice has got to be curry powder, used to sprinkle it on chips and all sorts!

    Reply
  42. Linda Doyle says

    February 9, 2014 at 11:30 am

    Sounds interesting

    Reply
  43. Susan Carter says

    February 9, 2014 at 11:48 am

    I love basil, so fresh and appetising.

    Reply
  44. Champaklal Lad says

    February 9, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    Saffron – worth its weight in gold strong aroma and taste

    Reply
  45. victoria thurgood says

    February 9, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    I like mint

    Reply
  46. Janet T says

    February 9, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    I adore herbs and I love Lavender and Rosemary

    Reply
  47. lowri earith says

    February 9, 2014 at 2:25 pm

    smoked paprika

    Reply
  48. Emma Ellams says

    February 9, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    My favourite spice is cinnamon, so much flavour and the smell is to die for.

    Reply
  49. liz ferguson says

    February 9, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    I love cumin, and use it in most everything!!

    Reply
  50. liz ferguson says

    February 9, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    I love cumin, and use it in most everything!

    Reply
  51. vicky M says

    February 9, 2014 at 6:13 pm

    My favourite is cumin.

    Reply
  52. SUSAN L HALL says

    February 9, 2014 at 9:09 pm

    I love cinnamon and use it whenever i can

    Reply
  53. Mary Kircher says

    February 9, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    ‘oops I also missed the comment and couldn’t go back to it.
    I have difficulty in choosing between cumin and nutmeg …. love the smell of both, and
    use them frequently. Oh… and smoked paprika.

    Some grated nutmeg in mashed potato tastes great !

    The Recipe Book looks SO interesting … My bookcase told me to say that !

    Reply
  54. Natalie Gillham says

    February 9, 2014 at 11:49 pm

    I love the warm and cosy scent of cinnamon 🙂

    Reply
  55. Jacqueline says

    March 1, 2014 at 9:55 pm

    I know want to see that spice wheel and of course have a play with it. I do love cumin in soup, it does add a lot of warmth. Thanks for submitting it to No Crouton Required. The roundup is now live.

    Reply
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Bowls of broccoli and Stilton soup
Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli

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© 2004 - 2023 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

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