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Creamy Carrot and Turnip Soup

Welcome in the cold weather with a hearty and creamy vegetarian soup. Celebrate the flavors of fall with this carrot and turnip soup that is perfect for any occasion and stores wonderfully.

Bowl of carrot and turnip soup

Hearty soups are what cold weather is all about. And they are the best way to celebrate fall produce. Most of the time I like a chunky soup like vegetarian minestrone. But there are times when a creamy soup just hits all the right spots.

Carrots and turnips are a perfect pair. Both get a little sweet when cooked but have distinct flavor profiles. Carrots are brighter, giving this soup its front of the palate nuances. On the other hand, turnips are buttery and warm. Then a bit of leek adds some bite!

Creamy carrot soup with turnips

Health benefits of turnips

While turnips are lower in starch than potatoes, they are still classified as a starchy vegetable. The benefit of using turnips is primarily in flavor. But they do offer some health benefits. Turnips have a high amount of calcium, magnesium, and folate. They are also very high in fiber – something that is great for your digestion!

If you get turnips with the greens on, those are even better. They have even more calcium and magnesium, and also a very high amount of iron and potassium. While they don’t have any use in this soup, you can absolutely save them to cook in other ways.

Turnips on a dark background

What kind of turnips should you use?

There are several kinds of turnips out there – and several other root vegetables that are easy to mistake for turnips. The two most common types are the standard large purple top turnips and Tokyo turnips which are smaller and all white. Either type will work for this recipe, though you’ll need 3-4 smaller ones to make up 1 purple top which is what I used.

Because they look very similar, it can be easy to mistake rutabagas for large turnips. Both are a purple-ish color on top and about the same size. Rutabagas however are more yellow and are generally squat in shape rather than oblong. And since the flavor is different you definitely don’t want to confuse the two.

Dunking bread in a yellow carrot and turnip soup

Freezing soup for later

Soups, particularly creamy pureed soups are great make-ahead meals. Because they are already blended, you don’t have to worry about textures getting weird as they sit in the fridge or freezer. 

Whether you are looking for fun new choices in meal prep or are trying to stock your freezer with easy meals, this creamy soup will have you covered.

The best way to store soups is in single servings. This way they are easy to grab out of the freezer and heat up. You can even just add a single serving container to your lunch bag for work and the frozen soup will keep everything else cold if you don’t have a fridge. Then just heat it up in a microwave!

One of the wonderful things about pureed soups is that they are so straightforward. You just cook everything up until it’s soft then blend it up. If you don’t already have one, I really recommend getting an immersion blender for making creamy soups. There’s no fuss of moving the soup to the blender and back – which means fewer dishes to do. Always a win in my book.

Bowl of carrot and turnip soup

Creamy Carrot and Turnip Soup

This rich and creamy vegetarian turnip soup with carrots is a delicious, comforting meal that's brilliant for making in bulk and freezing.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 152kcal
Author: Jovita | Yummy Addiction

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Blender
Cutting Boards
Knife Set

Ingredients

  • 4 large carrots
  • 1 potato
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 leek
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 3 medium turnips , chopped
  • salt and black pepper , to taste
  • 2 cups vegetable broth or water
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • chopped parsley , for garnish

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Chop the carrots and potatoes and cook for 20-25 minutes until the carrots are tender.
  • Meanwhile, slice up the leek removing the dark green leaf end and the root end (use only the white and light green parts). Heat the butter and olive oil in a skillet and add the leek. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more until fragrant. Add the turnips and cook for 5 minutes more. Finally, add the cooked carrots and potatoes and cook for a couple of minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Transfer the vegetables to a blender and add the broth. Process until well blended. Pour the mixture into the emptied pot you used for boiling the carrots. Stir in the heavy cream and add more salt and pepper, if needed. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
  • Serve garnished with some chopped parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.3g | Fat: 6.8g | Cholesterol: 7.6mg | Sodium: 122.1mg | Sugar: 8.2g
Course: lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: carrot soup, turnip soup
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Carrot and Turnip Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 152 Calories from Fat 61
% Daily Value*
Fat 6.8g10%
Cholesterol 7.6mg3%
Sodium 122.1mg5%
Carbohydrates 22.3g7%
Sugar 8.2g9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

8 Comments

  • Kushigalu
    November 3, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    Love the combo and how creamy this soup looks. A great recipe to try this fall season. Thanks for sharing5 stars

    Reply
  • Carrie Robinson
    November 3, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    This sounds so good! Perfect comfort food. 🙂5 stars

    Reply
  • Gina
    November 3, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    Love the simplicity of this recipe but how amazingly creamy it is! Great way to enjoy root vegetables this season!5 stars

    Reply
  • Alisa Infanti
    November 3, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    I love this recipe. Turnips add such an interesting flavour to this soup. I need to make more so I can freeze!5 stars

    Reply
  • Noelle Simpson
    November 3, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    This was so creamy! loved the flavors, thanks for sharing 🙂5 stars

    Reply
  • CEW73
    February 23, 2022 at 2:13 pm

    I’ve used this recipe twice now with celeriac instead of turnip. It’s absolutely delicious.
    TIP: vegan version. I used grated creamed coconut block (blue dragon) around 1/5th of a whole block and added a teaspoon of thyme. For those that like it spicy I sprinkled chilli flakes on top of each portion. It’s perfect. Thanks5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 25, 2022 at 8:17 pm

      Celeriac is always a great idea! And thank you for the vegan version tips 😉

      Reply
  • Marlise
    March 7, 2023 at 12:40 am

    Delicious! I added a hint of crushed dried
    mint to it! It’s a keeper!

    Reply

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