Spiced Beet Soup

Today’s post is in honor of something so frilly and dainty and white, my handful of male readers might want to put on their estrogen-protecting respirators. We’re going to a bridal shower!

I love being invited to showers, and I feel the need to point that out because some women seem to be so critical of them. There’s no need to comment on whether you think the location is over-the-top, to critique the bride’s choice of china and linens, or to complain that the timing doesn’t fit seamlessly into your schedule. Basically, take off your McJudge-y pants and be happy for your friend/sister/cousin/co-worker/husband’s second-cousin’s-neighbor, or whoever the bride may be. Get her a gift (preferably off her registry), show up in a cute outfit, and give those silly games your best shot. Finally, enjoy the fact that someone is treating you to a good meal – especially if the food was cooked by a group of fabulously talented food bloggers.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, this shower is a virtual one! Our celebration is honor of Kelsey, author of Apple a Day. Kelsey and I have “known” each other at least as long as we’ve both been blogging and I’m so thrilled that she’s about to walk down the aisle with the love of her life. The idea to host a virtual shower came from Amy, of Sing for Your Supper blog. All of Kelsey’s best food-blogging friends were invited, and with each of us contributing a signature recipe, it’s sure to be a delicious spread.

I love the idea of “pretty” food for a bridal shower, and to me there is nothing more girly and gorgeous than the bright magenta hue of beets. And while I have no qualms about indulging in treats and sweets when it comes to parties, I always appreciate a few healthier options to balance things out. That’s why I decided a spiced beet soup served in miniature dessert glasses would be a perfect addition to Kelsey’s shower. It took me two tries to get the recipe just right (regular readers might remember I shared a sneak peak last week) but I’m so glad I did. Roasting the beets really brings out their earthy, slightly-sweet flavor, which pairs beautifully with an array of warm spices including ginger, cinnamon, and a touch of cloves. Other reasons I love this soup for a shower? It’s one of those things that improves after a day or two in the fridge, allowing the flavors to engage and marry (hehe!) into something truly harmonious. So you can prepare it ahead of time and leave the day-of fussing to something else. Also, this soup does not need to be served piping hot. We actually found that it tasted a lot better once it had cooled down to a warm temperature. So it can certainly sit out for a bit while your guests are socializing and admiring all of the delicious options.

Speaking of those goodies, please head over to Amy’s or Kelsey’s blogs to see what they are and who made them. I’m excited to see them myself – I’ve heard rumors of goat cheese, shrimp, bellinis, and macarons, and that’s just touching the surface. Yum! Please be sure to thank Amy for hosting and to wish Kelsey a big congratulations too. Kelsey, I’m thrilled to be part of your celebration and wish you a life of happiness and good health with your soon-to-be hubby. Enjoy your special day!

One last thing – if you’re looking for the perfect dress to wear to a shower, why not enter my giveaway to win a free one from Shabby Apple


Spiced Beet Soup
Adapted from Epicurious
Printable Recipe

2 large beets (about 1 3/4lbs total)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large red onion, sliced thinly (about 2 cups)
3 medium celery stalks, chopped
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons Chinese 5 spice powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 cups vegetable broth

Preheat oven to 400ΒΊF. Trim and scrub the beets, and wrap each one in a piece of aluminum foil coated in cooking spray. Place the foil-wrapped beets in a baking dish, or simply on top of the oven racks. Roast for 1 hour, or until tender. Remove from oven and cool. (The beets can be roasted ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a couple days.)

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and celery, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, unitl the onions are softened and beginning to caramelize.

Meanwhile, peel and dice the roasted beets.

Add the ginger to the pot with the onions and celery and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add the diced beets and the remaining seasonings, stirring to combine. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook for about 25-30 minutes, until the vegetables are very tender.

Remove from heat, and let the soup cool down a bit. Puree the soup with an immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor or blender. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve warm.

Nutritional Info
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 151.1
Total Fat: 3.9 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 513.3 mg
Total Carbs: 27.2 g
Dietary Fiber: 7.8 g
Protein: 4.2 g

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82 Responses to “Spiced Beet Soup”

  1. 1

    Shannon — March 2, 2011 @ 1:18 pm Reply

    ooh, i need to explore more beet soups, this sounds great! I'm intrigued by the Chinese 5-spice. Picked some up recently and need to remember that it's there πŸ™‚

  2. 2

    Emily — March 2, 2011 @ 2:55 pm Reply

    OK, seriously your photography is incredible! I could find no flaws for your giveaway yesterday. While I'm not a huge fan of beets, I love how you styled the soup in glasses on various sizes!

  3. 3

    Kelsey — March 2, 2011 @ 3:06 pm Reply

    Cara, I love this healthy addition to my shower. Thank you so much for bringing something so beautiful, tasty, and wedding dress friendly! I so appreciate your hard work and kind words. You've made me feel so special πŸ™‚

  4. 4

    Shawnda — March 2, 2011 @ 3:27 pm Reply

    Cara, that soup is gorgeous! And so beautifully styled and photographed. You and I would get along great IRL – I feel the same way about showers πŸ™‚

  5. 5

    Irena — March 2, 2011 @ 3:35 pm Reply

    Beautiful soup, unusual and so good for you. I love beets in general, preparing them like salads….Thanks for sharing:)https://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/roasted-beets-bunapi-mushrooms-great-sides/

  6. 6

    Nikki (Pennies on a Platter) — March 2, 2011 @ 3:47 pm Reply

    I never would have thought to add a beet soup to a shower menu, but you're right, the color is so beautiful it fits right in!

  7. 7

    Dawn Hutchins — March 2, 2011 @ 4:08 pm Reply

    This looks wonderful Cara. I'm supposed to be getting some beets with my CSA tomorrow so I have to see if I have the spices. Mmmm…..Have fun at the shower!

  8. 8

    Melissa — March 2, 2011 @ 4:15 pm Reply

    I love the presentation of this soup! It looks and sounds beautiful and delicious! What did you put on top of it? Greek yogurt?

  9. 9

    Melissa — March 2, 2011 @ 4:15 pm Reply

    I love the presentation of this soup! It looks and sounds beautiful and delicious! What did you put on top of it? Greek yogurt?

  10. 10

    Cara — March 2, 2011 @ 5:01 pm Reply

    aww, thanks Emily! That means so much!

  11. 11

    Cara — March 2, 2011 @ 5:02 pm Reply

    Thanks again for inviting me – so glad you like this!

  12. 12

    Cara — March 2, 2011 @ 5:03 pm Reply

    Thanks for your kind words on the photos – coming from someone so talented like yourself, that really means a lot to me πŸ™‚

  13. 13

    Cara — March 2, 2011 @ 5:04 pm Reply

    Thanks Melissa! Yup, just a dab of Greek yogurt, though I had to thin it with a little water to make it swirl properly.

  14. 14

    Amy — March 2, 2011 @ 6:05 pm Reply

    This is such a beautiful soup, Cara! Thank you so much for participating!

  15. 15

    Joanne — March 2, 2011 @ 6:10 pm Reply

    I've been loving following along with this virtual bridal shower. It really makes me want to get married soon. Just so I could see what people would cook for me. Okay. That's a little selfish. But I'd prefer that to gifts. So maybe not so much?I have to admit, i"m not the biggest fan of beets but you picked the perfect recipe to win me over. All of those fabulous spices…beautiful.

  16. 16

    Ashley Marie Armstrong — March 2, 2011 @ 7:37 pm Reply

    This looks delicious! I may have to steal this recipe and hint at it for my own shower! Even just the raw ingredients look like they would make the base for a great chilled salad.

  17. 17

    Kelly — March 2, 2011 @ 8:08 pm Reply

    I love the first photograph, absolutely gorgeous and it sounds like the recipe was certainly an inspired one. Sometimes I find my made up recipes come together perfectly right off the bat and othertimes I need a few tries to get them exactly where I want them. Lovely!

  18. 18

    Courtney — March 2, 2011 @ 8:15 pm Reply

    Cara, I have never seen a more gorgeous soup. I totally agree about showers, too. It's too bad we can't all get together for an in person one!

  19. 19

    Tasha — March 2, 2011 @ 9:20 pm Reply

    I love beets just about as much as I love soup, which is a lot. While your small servings look so beautiful and perfect for a shower, I am pretty sure I would be tempted to keep the entire batch just for myself.

  20. 20

    Annie — March 3, 2011 @ 1:40 am Reply

    Beautiful photo!

  21. 21

    Bridget — March 3, 2011 @ 1:42 am Reply

    What a beautiful color! One of my least favorite foods EVER is my mom's beet soup, but I suspect yours has little in common with that version!

  22. 22

    Tasteslikehome — March 3, 2011 @ 4:09 pm Reply

    Cara, your presentation makes this so enticing.

  23. 23

    Debi (Table Talk) — March 3, 2011 @ 4:21 pm Reply

    Gorgeous, Cara! The 5-spice gives it a nice lift, and it is just what I need to be eating before spring break!

  24. 24

    Cara — March 3, 2011 @ 5:05 pm Reply

    hehe, of course after the photo shoot they were all dumped back in the pot and dished back out as regular sized servings πŸ™‚ The things we do for blogging!

  25. 25

    Cara — March 3, 2011 @ 5:06 pm Reply

    Thanks Debi!

  26. 26

    Vegolicious — March 3, 2011 @ 9:49 pm Reply

    Your photos are amazing and the soup looks so delicious too.I’d love for your to submit them to Vegolicious, a vegetarian food photo gallery where readers can browse beautiful photos to discover new recipes and wonderful blogs. If you would like to share this recipe with our readers please submit a photo along with a link to this post.

  27. 27

    beantownbaker — March 11, 2011 @ 7:53 pm Reply

    The soup look amazing, and so do the photos! Too bad this shower wasn't a really one with all the goodies everyone made!!

  28. 28

    Marisa — March 18, 2011 @ 11:11 am Reply

    Lovely looking soup! Am such a huge fan of beets.

  29. 29

    Shannon — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    ooh, i need to explore more beet soups, this sounds great! I'm intrigued by the Chinese 5-spice. Picked some up recently and need to remember that it's there πŸ™‚

  30. 30

    Kelsey — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    Cara, I love this healthy addition to my shower. Thank you so much for bringing something so beautiful, tasty, and wedding dress friendly! I so appreciate your hard work and kind words. You've made me feel so special πŸ™‚

  31. 31

    Dawn Hutchins — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    This looks wonderful Cara. I'm supposed to be getting some beets with my CSA tomorrow so I have to see if I have the spices. Mmmm…..Have fun at the shower!

  32. 32

    Melissa — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    I love the presentation of this soup! It looks and sounds beautiful and delicious! What did you put on top of it? Greek yogurt?

  33. 33

    Melissa — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    I love the presentation of this soup! It looks and sounds beautiful and delicious! What did you put on top of it? Greek yogurt?

  34. 34

    Cara — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    Thanks again for inviting me – so glad you like this!

  35. 35

    Cara — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    Thanks Melissa! Yup, just a dab of Greek yogurt, though I had to thin it with a little water to make it swirl properly.

  36. 36

    Kelly — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    I love the first photograph, absolutely gorgeous and it sounds like the recipe was certainly an inspired one. Sometimes I find my made up recipes come together perfectly right off the bat and othertimes I need a few tries to get them exactly where I want them. Lovely!

  37. 37

    Courtney — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    Cara, I have never seen a more gorgeous soup. I totally agree about showers, too. It's too bad we can't all get together for an in person one!

  38. 38

    Annie — March 28, 2011 @ 8:36 pm Reply

    Beautiful photo!

  39. 39

    Cara — March 28, 2011 @ 8:37 pm Reply

    aww, thanks Emily! That means so much!

  40. 40

    Cara — March 28, 2011 @ 8:37 pm Reply

    Thanks for your kind words on the photos – coming from someone so talented like yourself, that really means a lot to me πŸ™‚

  41. 41

    Amy — March 28, 2011 @ 8:37 pm Reply

    This is such a beautiful soup, Cara! Thank you so much for participating!

  42. 42

    Joanne — March 28, 2011 @ 8:37 pm Reply

    I've been loving following along with this virtual bridal shower. It really makes me want to get married soon. Just so I could see what people would cook for me. Okay. That's a little selfish. But I'd prefer that to gifts. So maybe not so much?I have to admit, i"m not the biggest fan of beets but you picked the perfect recipe to win me over. All of those fabulous spices…beautiful.

  43. 43

    Shawnda — March 28, 2011 @ 8:38 pm Reply

    Cara, that soup is gorgeous! And so beautifully styled and photographed. You and I would get along great IRL – I feel the same way about showers πŸ™‚

  44. 44

    Ashley Marie Armstrong — March 28, 2011 @ 8:38 pm Reply

    This looks delicious! I may have to steal this recipe and hint at it for my own shower! Even just the raw ingredients look like they would make the base for a great chilled salad.

  45. 45

    Tasha — March 28, 2011 @ 8:39 pm Reply

    I love beets just about as much as I love soup, which is a lot. While your small servings look so beautiful and perfect for a shower, I am pretty sure I would be tempted to keep the entire batch just for myself.

  46. 46

    Bridget — March 28, 2011 @ 8:42 pm Reply

    What a beautiful color! One of my least favorite foods EVER is my mom's beet soup, but I suspect yours has little in common with that version!

  47. 47

    Marisa — March 28, 2011 @ 8:43 pm Reply

    Lovely looking soup! Am such a huge fan of beets.

  48. 48

    Emily — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    OK, seriously your photography is incredible! I could find no flaws for your giveaway yesterday. While I'm not a huge fan of beets, I love how you styled the soup in glasses on various sizes!

  49. 49

    Emily — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    OK, seriously your photography is incredible! I could find no flaws for your giveaway yesterday. While I'm not a huge fan of beets, I love how you styled the soup in glasses on various sizes!

  50. 50

    Irena — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    Beautiful soup, unusual and so good for you. I love beets in general, preparing them like salads….Thanks for sharing:)https://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/roasted-beets-bunapi-mushrooms-great-sides/

  51. 51

    Irena — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    Beautiful soup, unusual and so good for you. I love beets in general, preparing them like salads….Thanks for sharing:)https://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/roasted-beets-bunapi-mushrooms-great-sides/

  52. 52

    Nikki (Pennies on a Platter) — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    I never would have thought to add a beet soup to a shower menu, but you're right, the color is so beautiful it fits right in!

  53. 53

    Tasteslikehome — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    Cara, your presentation makes this so enticing.

  54. 54

    Tasteslikehome — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    Cara, your presentation makes this so enticing.

  55. 55

    Debi (Table Talk) — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    Gorgeous, Cara! The 5-spice gives it a nice lift, and it is just what I need to be eating before spring break!

  56. 56

    Debi (Table Talk) — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    Gorgeous, Cara! The 5-spice gives it a nice lift, and it is just what I need to be eating before spring break!

  57. 57

    Cara — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    hehe, of course after the photo shoot they were all dumped back in the pot and dished back out as regular sized servings πŸ™‚ The things we do for blogging!

  58. 58

    Cara — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    Thanks Debi!

  59. 59

    Vegolicious — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    Your photos are amazing and the soup looks so delicious too.I’d love for your to submit them to Vegolicious, a vegetarian food photo gallery where readers can browse beautiful photos to discover new recipes and wonderful blogs. If you would like to share this recipe with our readers please submit a photo along with a link to this post.

  60. 60

    beantownbaker — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    The soup look amazing, and so do the photos! Too bad this shower wasn't a really one with all the goodies everyone made!!

  61. 61

    beantownbaker — March 28, 2011 @ 8:49 pm Reply

    The soup look amazing, and so do the photos! Too bad this shower wasn't a really one with all the goodies everyone made!!

  62. 62

    Marisa — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    Lovely looking soup! Am such a huge fan of beets.

  63. 63

    beantownbaker — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    The soup look amazing, and so do the photos! Too bad this shower wasn't a really one with all the goodies everyone made!!

  64. 64

    Cara — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    Thanks Debi!

  65. 65

    Debi (Table Talk) — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    Gorgeous, Cara! The 5-spice gives it a nice lift, and it is just what I need to be eating before spring break!

  66. 66

    Tasteslikehome — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    Cara, your presentation makes this so enticing.

  67. 67

    Annie — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    Beautiful photo!

  68. 68

    Courtney — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    Cara, I have never seen a more gorgeous soup. I totally agree about showers, too. It's too bad we can't all get together for an in person one!

  69. 69

    Cara — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    Thanks for your kind words on the photos – coming from someone so talented like yourself, that really means a lot to me πŸ™‚

  70. 70

    Melissa — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    I love the presentation of this soup! It looks and sounds beautiful and delicious! What did you put on top of it? Greek yogurt?

  71. 71

    Nikki (Pennies on a Platter) — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    I never would have thought to add a beet soup to a shower menu, but you're right, the color is so beautiful it fits right in!

  72. 72

    Kelsey — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    Cara, I love this healthy addition to my shower. Thank you so much for bringing something so beautiful, tasty, and wedding dress friendly! I so appreciate your hard work and kind words. You've made me feel so special πŸ™‚

  73. 73

    Shannon — March 29, 2011 @ 2:07 am Reply

    ooh, i need to explore more beet soups, this sounds great! I'm intrigued by the Chinese 5-spice. Picked some up recently and need to remember that it's there πŸ™‚

  74. 74

    Kelsey — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    Cara, I love this healthy addition to my shower. Thank you so much for bringing something so beautiful, tasty, and wedding dress friendly! I so appreciate your hard work and kind words. You've made me feel so special πŸ™‚

  75. 75

    Joanne — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    I've been loving following along with this virtual bridal shower. It really makes me want to get married soon. Just so I could see what people would cook for me. Okay. That's a little selfish. But I'd prefer that to gifts. So maybe not so much?I have to admit, i"m not the biggest fan of beets but you picked the perfect recipe to win me over. All of those fabulous spices…beautiful.

  76. 76

    Cara — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    aww, thanks Emily! That means so much!

  77. 77

    Courtney — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    Cara, I have never seen a more gorgeous soup. I totally agree about showers, too. It's too bad we can't all get together for an in person one!

  78. 78

    Melissa — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    I love the presentation of this soup! It looks and sounds beautiful and delicious! What did you put on top of it? Greek yogurt?

  79. 79

    beantownbaker — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    The soup look amazing, and so do the photos! Too bad this shower wasn't a really one with all the goodies everyone made!!

  80. 80

    Bridget — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    What a beautiful color! One of my least favorite foods EVER is my mom's beet soup, but I suspect yours has little in common with that version!

  81. 81

    Nikki (Pennies on a Platter) — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    I never would have thought to add a beet soup to a shower menu, but you're right, the color is so beautiful it fits right in!

  82. 82

    Irena — April 5, 2011 @ 1:24 am Reply

    Beautiful soup, unusual and so good for you. I love beets in general, preparing them like salads….Thanks for sharing:)https://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/roasted-beets-bunapi-mushrooms-great-sides/

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