Saffron & Carrot Soup with Herby Pistachio & Pomegranate Pesto

Last week we confessed our love for all things saffron and pomegranate in our Saffron Roasted Cauliflower recipe and this week we’re back at it -- this time infusing the bright flavors of saffron and pomegranate into a warm and comforting soup… with the addition of carrots! We used the fullest’s Saffron Threads to create a tincture that gently adds depth and color to the broth. Instead of bread crumbs, we opted for a pomegranate pesto (which we made with our go-to sweetener, Just Pomegranate Syrup. Combining the brightness of pomegranates with other vibrant (dare we say, woke) flavors like mint, parsley, orange juice, and orange zest creates a soup that is a hearty and delicious meal you’ll be wanting many more servings of. 

SAFFRON & CARROT SOUP WITH POMEGRANATE PESTO INGREDIENTS

Soup:

2 tablespoons Brightland Awake Olive Oil (can also use coconut oil)1 medium-sized yellow onion, roughly chopped2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped6 cups organic carrots, roughly chopped 3 cups low-sodium vegetable or mushroom brothSaffron Tincture made from the fullest’s Saffron Threads (we used about 6 half-full droppers)Himalayan pink salt, to tasteFreshly cracked black pepper*Optional: add up to 1 cup of organic full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk for creaminess

Saffron Tincture:

15 threads⅛ cup water(Let sit in the fridge overnight in a dropper vial/bottle.)

Herby Pistachio & Pomegranate Pesto: 

⅓ cup mint, finely chopped⅓ cup parsley, finely chopped⅓ cup crushed pistachios2 tablespoons Just Pomegranate SyrupZest and juice of ½ an orange, to tasteSalt and pepper, to taste*Optional: add a pinch of aleppo or crushed red chiles for some heat.

SAFFRON & CARROT SOUP WITH POMEGRANATE PESTO ASSEMBLY

1 | On medium heat, drizzle the onion and garlic in olive oil in a stockpot or enameled dutch oven. Saute until the onions and garlic are slightly translucent and soft, stirring occasionally.2 | Add in the carrots, saffron, broth, a few generous pinches of salt, and give everything a big stir to evenly combine ingredients.3 | Bring to a boil and turn the heat down to medium-low, covering the pot with a lid to let simmer for about 25 minutes or until the carrots are fork-tender.4 | While the soup is cooking, make the herby pesto by roughly chopping the herbs and pistachios before adding Just Pomegranate Syrup, olive oil, fresh orange zest/juice, and salt and pepper to taste. (Want more tart sweetness? Add more pomegranate syrup. More acidity or the pesto isn’t holding together? Add a touch more fresh orange juice.) Tweak amounts depending on your preference, and set aside.5 | Once the carrots are fork-tender, transfer the soup mixture from the stockpot to a high powered blender and blend until smooth, gradually adding up to 1 cup of coconut milk if desired for creaminess. Add salt and pepper to taste.6 | Ladle into serving bowls and top with herby pomegranate pistachio pesto.