Bright Cacao Velvety Soup (Printable Version)
Velvety soup featuring cacao, root vegetables, and spices in a smooth, comforting blend.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
02 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 1 small onion, chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 celery stalk, chopped
→ Liquids
06 - 4 cups vegetable broth
07 - 1 cup coconut milk
→ Cacao and Seasonings
08 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened cacao powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish
15 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
16 - A swirl of coconut cream
17 - Fresh cilantro or mint leaves
# How To Make:
01 - Heat a splash of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and sweet potato. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until softened.
02 - Incorporate cacao powder, cumin, cinnamon, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, sea salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until vegetables are very tender.
04 - Remove from heat and add coconut milk. Puree using an immersion blender or standard blender in batches until velvety smooth.
05 - Adjust seasoning as needed by tasting the soup.
06 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds, a swirl of coconut cream, and fresh herbs if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes like autumn in a bowl, but works any time you want something warm and deeply satisfying.
- The cacao brings mystery and richness without being sweet, making it feel secretly fancy for such a simple process.
- Vegan and gluten-free without any compromise or noticeable substitutions.
02 -
- Don't skip the one-minute bloom of the cacao and spices—it's the difference between tasting like a real soup and tasting like powder in liquid.
- Blend this soup completely smooth; any texture will feel wrong and break the velvety spell it casts.
- Always add the coconut milk after you turn off the heat so it doesn't separate or curdle.
03 -
- If your soup looks thinner than you want, blend it a little less and you'll keep some body; if it's too thick, a splash more broth loosens it back up.
- Make this in bulk and freeze it in portions—it defrosts gracefully and reheats without losing its silky texture.