Eight Things
One. When did I get so annoyingly healthy? Let me just tell you… eating wholesome Vegan Carrot Ginger Coconut Soup makes Nachos with jalapenos, sour cream, and extra guacamole taste AWESOME! I know this to be true.
Two. Does this shadow make me look fat? Don’t answer that…. unless you want to say that I look skinny. Then you can totally answer it. This is me and my best friend Rachel. Rachel just moved to Missouri. I didn’t cry when she drove away with her car packed to the gills with her belongings…. except I totally did, I just didn’t want her to see me.
Three. It’s hard when people go and you’re left to stay. It makes me want Nachos with jalapenos, sour cream, and extra guacamole.
Four. I spend more time than I would ever want to at the laundromat… that’s because I love clean sheets, and I don’t own 7 sets of clean sheets. There are a lot of lines at the laundromat. Lines of tables. Lines of tiles. Lines of baskets. Lines of Venice beach weirdos. There is time at the laundromat to sit without computers. There is time at the laundromat to stare at the swirling dryer… it’s like yoga, but not yoga.
Five. Why is it so hard to mature, and learn, and grow when it’s so easy to flub, slip and regress? The growth, the maturation, the learning…. man oh man that takes courage. The flubbing, the stumbling, the regression…. blerg… recognizing that takes courage too.
All of these things I told you about Turning TwentyOne… trust me when I tell you that I only know these things from thoroughly and frequently falling on my face.
Six. There is a certain amount of kindness that you must grant yourself to keep learning and growing… and slipping and flopping.
Kindness and green things. Give this to yourself.
Seven. There’s a lot I can learn from this animal: eat everyone’s food and always assume that everyone wants to play with you.
Eight. When in doubt… because we’re all in doubt sometimes… think of yourself as the underdog, play the Olympic theme song in your head, and root for yourself like crazy. That’s what I’m doing. It’s working. Know why? Because underdogs always win, even when they dont.
….and it’s totally ok if you’re looking at me like I’m crazy right now.
Vegan Carrot Ginger Coconut Soup
This soup is the picture of health. Sweet carrots are cooked down and mixed with spicy ginger and creamy coconut. It’s vegan. It’s healthy. Your insides will totally throw a parade in your honor. I like to serve this soup with crusty bread… I like to serve everything with crusty bread.
serves 4 to 6
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 tablespoons minced ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
4-5 cups diced carrots
3 cups vegetable broth
1 cup light coconut milk
salt and pepper to taste
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and saute until onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Add ginger and saute for another 4 minutes, until softened and fragrant. Add coriander and diced carrots. Stir to incorporate. Add the vegetable broth, reduce heat, and simmer mixture until carrots are completely softened, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 20 minutes.
Using a blender, blend soup in batches until smooth. (You can also use an emulsion blender in the pot and never have to move the soup… if you’re into that sort of convenience.) Return soup to pot, stir in coconut milk. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve soup warm with crusty vegan bread.
Kale Chips
These are not potato chips. Don’t let anyone tell you that they taste as good as potato chips. They don’t. Potato chips are uuuuhhhh-mazing. These chips are also delicious. Believe it or not, kale bakes up into a crisp paper, chip-like consistency. The flavor is light, but green… and you can add just about any seasoning you’d like. Old Bay Seasoning? A total dream come true. Try them. The crunch is addicting. Oh! I like using dinosaur kale (the flatter kale variety) because they leaves are more easily removed from the stalk. Try any kale you can get your hands on!
1 pound bunch of dinosaur kale
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
any seasoning you’d like: Old Bay Seasoning, Grill Seasoning, smoky paprika, chili flakes, sea salt and coarse black pepper.
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Thoroughly clean and dry kale leaves. Remove the fiberous center stalk from the kale by tearing the leaves away from the stalk. The center stalk will bake up very tough, that’s why we remove it.
Place kale leaves on one or two baking sheets. Leaves should be in a single layer for the most part. Sprinkle with olive oil and seasoning. Toss with your hands. Add more seasoning if you’d like.
Place pan(s) in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove sheet(s) and toss leaves with tongs. Return to the oven to bake for another 15 minutes. after 30 minutes of baking, turn the oven off and allow the leaves to dry in the cooling oven for another 30 to 45 minutes. They’ll be crisp and ready to snack on in no time!
Store kale chips in an airtight bag. They’ll last anywhere from several minutes (because they’re an irresistible snack) to several days (because your husband doesn’t like kale).
147 Responses
Oh wait. Nvm. I need reading glasses. Or a bigger screen.
When do you add the coconut milk? I don’t see that step. Thanks.
Is it strange if I deem you my soup guru? Joy the Soup Maker? The first thing I made with my lovely new pink immersion blender was your spinach soup (oh so heavenly even though I omitted the croutons and used “fine herbs” instead of thyme) and now this. I used a full can of light coconut milk because oops and oh it was delish.
I want to make all the colors of soup.
This soup is AMAZING. Thank you! So difficult finding delicious vegan soups. The less said about kale the better- gag!
This recipe rocks!! Like awesome yumminess. I live in India, and nothing screams summer here like mangoes, so instead of plain ginger, I used a special variety here called mango ginger which has the spice of ginger and sweetness of mangoes! So I just had my version of Indian Summer Soup, and thanks to you I feel super healthy (until I hit the pub tonight!)
This soup is wonderful and makes me feel quite virtuous…although, like some of the other commenters, I used almost a whole can of regular coconut milk. I topped my bowl off with a few splashes of Tabasco. Delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
I tried a carrot ginger soup at a restaurant before, and I was so unimpressed that I haven’t touched it since. But this makes me want to give it a try once more!
Tonight I’m making the kale & farro dish from super natural everyday and had a ton of kale leftover so I decided to try out the kale chip recipe. I completely adore Joy, but I am a little disappointed at no advance warning as to how long this simple dish takes to actually make! It took forevs to wash and dry and tear the kale, and then with the time and attention it takes to bake these chips…for such a little quantity in the end (the chips shrink)…it just seems like so much effort for a snack that will, as Joy points out, be gone within the day. Is there a time saving process for rinsing and drying and tearing leafy greens that I don’t know about? If so, please share! :)
I made this last night. I didn’t have any vegetable broth so I threw in a cup of white wine and 2 cups water and 2 stalks of chopped celery. Delicious! Thanks for the recipe and the 8 things
I made this with regular coconut milk instead of light and it is so yummy!! Thanks again!
hey joy,
i made this soup & kale chips and it was delicious! i’ve also made your sweet potato/kale soup, your broccoli/arugula soup, beef stew, vegan mushroom soup. next up, lentils! i love you and your soup recipes! hope there’s more coming. :)
xoxoxo
r
I made your soup, ate it twice, made it again. Drew it with crayons, wrote about it too. (Is this OK? I put in credits.)
https://tangerinedrawings.com/2011/12/08/velvet-carrot-soup/
It’s 5pm, and I am on the sofa eating soup. Better than afternoon tea!!
Have a lovely weekend (nearly) xx
“There is a certain amount of kindness that you must grant yourself to keep learning and growing… and slipping and flopping. Kindness and green things. Give this to yourself.”
Thanks for such an inspiring blog – wonderful food, gentle wisdom, I needed to find this today. Bless you!
Joy I love you and your blog. Also I am sad that your beat friend moved to Missouri. I live in Missouri, it’s not that great. I am sure she will return to California… Also I am using your home made vanilla as thank you gifts for my wedding next summer.
Thank you for starting this blog, it is wonderful you have a great writing voice (if that makes any sense)
Love this recipe! I put the kale chips in the soup and it was even more amazing. My son love the kale chips. I add a bit too much of salt.
I got to see my best friend two summers ago, and I bawled like an idiot in the security line on the way home :( I miss her tons, but it’s so great that I know we’ll pick up just where we left off the next time we see each other.
Number eight! Just had an awful day and totally doubting all abilities!! Nice to be reminded this can be turned around and thought of differently! <3
Love number 8! Thanks for the recipe
Very wise post! The Kale recipe sounds interesting.I shall try it and report on the results. Thanks for this great blog and especially the wonderful photographs.
Just made this soup for the first time, and it is truly lovely. I tweaked it slightly – I added a cup of red lentils to make it a bit heartier, and then added the whole can of coconut milk. Next time I think I’ll add an extra half cup of water if I’m adding lentils, just to stretch it out a bit. Thanks for the recipe, Joy!
Megan – red lentils sound so good with this. Did you puree the lentils with the rest of the soup or leave them separate?
I’m loving this!
Hey Joy, are you planning on creating an app for your blog at any point? i love your blog and wish that I had a mobile friendly version to carry around with me!
I live in Vietnam, and I was able to get all the ingredients for this soup at my local grocery store, which is a rare thing. This recipe was gift! The only change I made was cooking the onions and ginger in coconut oil instead. And it was extra delicious :)
I have killed so many carrots in the pursuit of good carrot soup!! Amazing, I know – it’s not a complicated thing – so thank you -THANK YOU – for the wonderful soup that filled my lunch mug today! It’s officially on the ‘soup list’! Have an awesome day!!
Yoga but not Yoga. Waiting is Yoga. Making decisions is Yoga. Loving is Yoga. Eating silently kale chips is Yoga. Life is Yoga. In a good way, indeed.
I’m looking forward to the day that Texas cools down and moves from summer to fall. That way I can make some of your beautiful soups. It’s just TOO hot to do that right now.
You are so wise. I wish I could have been that smart at half my age. Luv ya!
I’m with you, Joy, I HATE being left behind!
i am scared of kale. it’s so dark. and leafy. but you telling me i can drown it in old bay makes me think that maybe…
very intrigued by these kale chips! yum! only don’t go TOO healthy on us…we’re counting on you! :)
You are the most dynamic, di- na- mo 21 year old I’ve ever met!
Looks great! Kale chips are the best, definitely satisfies the potato chip craving. Yum!
Made the kale chips over the weekend..they were great! Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Joy.
I hope your best friend likes Missouri. I’m from Missouri and I like it. Well, parts. I don’t live there any more, but maybe one day I will again.
Also, thank you for posting the Kale Chip recipe. I like potato chips, but they’re not very good for you. I also like Kale chips and they are good for you. Baked Kale 2, fried potatoes 1.
Is it possible to make Kale chip nachos? I think it’s totally possible.
Oh, and thanks for making me feel less crazy about how much time I spend at the laundry mat cleaning my sheets. Glad I’m not alone on that one.
yummy! It’s supposed to finally get cool here this week, and I just bought wayyyyyyyy too many carrots. I see this in my future. But maybe un-veganed with some creme fraiche?
Kale chips are incredible, but for some reason I’ve never tried making them w/dinosaur kale! Of course. I always use the curly kind and thought you HAD to use that kind. Silly.
Carrot Ginger Coconut…burst of flavour much! Sounds delicious =)
My cat is your cat’s doppelganger. For reals. I’ve learned a lot from mine, too. Like how it’s good to be lazy sometimes. And to stretch. And to lick my bowl of yogurt clean.
I made this tasty soup today! It’s fantastic!!! I planned to take it for lunch all week, but we sampled so many ‘test bowls’, there was only enough left for Monday & Tuesday. ? Thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes!!
My friend turned me onto Kale chips and she puts nutritional yeast on them! Yum!!!!!
I agree completely: “When in doubt… because we’re all in doubt sometimes… think of yourself as the underdog, play the Olympic theme song in your head, and root for yourself like crazy.” And don’t worry, best friends will stay best friends forever (:
your shadow makes you look like you have legs for dayz!
Hey Joy,
All I want to say is thanks for writing your blog. Seriously, thanks. I love reading it. I’m a teacher, and when I’m frustrated about work, or my students, or something, pretty pictures of food, funny words, and some cool advice is just a few clicks away. Plus, I get the added benefit of getting to make tons of your recipes, which have never failed me. So anyways, thanks! You’re an inspiration, and your blog always make me smile!
what a thought-provoking list of things! and i agree that we can learn a lot from our cats. thanks for this delicious sounding soup recipe.
You make me laugh every time. I think the soup is a great contender against nachos. But I just say that because I can’t eat corn haha
It is hard to see your friends move away, remember it is hard for them to leave you too. Thanks for the recipes, Joy; I made the soup and the chips and they turned out amazing – as usual with your recipes!
Those 8 things are just what I needed to hear today! Thanks!
You are like superfunny! LOL I had to laugh reading this, but all of it is true, so kudos. The blog post is great! :D
made the soup yesterday when my four roommates were out of the house. pair the silence and the soup with some asiago cheese bread and a glass of wine, and that was the most relaxing night i’ve had in a long long long time! AMAZING soup!
this soup looks so good.
I kinda want to make it right now, i’ll be lucky if I have coconut milk in the pantry!
When I moved from NY to California, oh man. Did I CRY. I left my friend waving from the block.. >crying<. At least this vegan soooop will make me happy ;)
“It’s like yoga, but no yoga.”
How true it is.
You bring such fun to the kitchen table – this soup looks uhmazing and I will be trying it. Yum!
That soup looks amazing. Might be lunch today!
YUM! That soup looks really terrific.
Oh, the sadness of people you love living WAY too far away… Thank you for the reminder to be kind to oneself. And for the healthy soup. LOVE YOUR WORK!
That’s a great way to eat carrots in a different way: the coconut and ginger is a great idea. I wonder what the coconut and carrot together must taste like!
I don’t know why (well, maybe I do…it could have possibly been the copious amounts of champagne I’ve had tonight) but this post made me tear up a bit. Especially numbers 7 and 8. Thanks.
I’m still dying to know how you put those borders on your photos – I will trade you some serious fun gradient mapping tricks.
joy, this is so good. i made it tonight for dinner! thanks so much!
This sounds like dessert but I’m sure its a very tasty soup!
love kale chips–I made some last week!
As a person who has been excited about fall since the first sign of crisp air, I’m so happy about this blog post. And now that you’ve done it first, I’m totally making soup soon. So what if it’s still in the high 80’s in Philly. And I’m definitely bookmarking this one to put on my list of soups to make this year. Yum!
Yum. OH YUM. I don’t even care that it’s totally healthy. I think it looks perfect and I need to make it.
I like these 8 things. And I think you look quite skinny.
I’ve always been the scrappy underdog. Underdogs got heart, they got to. And if you’re the underdog, success–even if it’s small–feels SO good. All is good. And that carrot ginger soup is made awesome by the coconut part. I dig it.
Carrot Ginger Coconut makes me think of a muffin, but it sounds like a drop-dead gorgeous soup, too! Can’t wait to try it! Bet it would get better with time and make for a perfect take-to-work lunch.
I think I’ve found the long lost cousin to my vegan butternut squash – ginger soup with hot paprika! That one is loved by meat eaters and professional chefs alike, will try this one on them too!
Carrots & kale, all in one post. Love it! Those might be my 2 very favorite veggies.
Wow, I like to serve everything with crusty bread (and, wine) also!
Keep rooting for yourself sweetie, it’s the only way…
I think you need to do a post devoted to Old Bay seasoning, and a multi-can giveaway. :)
I totally second this motion! There is nothing better than Old Bay Seasoning…..except Old Bay Seasoning on Kale Chips! =)
LOL! Old Bay Seasoning will be Buy One, Get One Free starting Wednesday, September 14 at Publix too! Woo hoo!
Do not bother to attempt kale chips in a humid climate. They will eventually burn, but they won’t get crisp. Or, at least they won’t stay crisp long enough to even put them in your mouth.
In fact, if you have a reliable oven, you can just do the kale chips at 400-425 degrees for about 10-15 minutes (you need to monitor them pretty closely, and when they look/feel right, they are done) without having to turn/toss them or anything, and they will be just as good.
Also? Try adding some balsamic vinegar when you toss them with the oil. Oil and vinegar kale chips. I may or may not have eaten an entire bunch of kale this way last weekend.
I love the bubble-heart on the top of the soup.
to several days (because your husband doesn’t like kale). <– I have successfully converted mine. And my 4 yr old has been raised on kale chips. I make mine with a coating of soaked and blended cashews, red pepper, nooch, salt, EVOO….so good. Addictively good. And yes, you can be addicted to kale chips, it's possible.
Great soup recipe. Easy and awesome looking!
We need to be friends. Amen.
three. bring up memories when I moved the middle of my 11th grade year in high school went from Daytona Bch to Tampa. my parents and I drove in a caravan over. I cried the entire way over to tampa in my truck. leaving so many good friends and memories is just plain hard.
on a happier note…i have been waiting to make something with kale…these chips might be it!
happy friday my friend!
Old bay on kale chips – genius. To be honest I will eat anything with old bay on it, but this will definitely be something I try soon.
Hi Joy! I’ve been meaning to write you for awhile now to tell you how much I LOVE your blog, and I’m so happy to finally be doing it after this last post–I’ve been having really similar thoughts lately, and your expression of them is just awesome (especially the yoga/laundromat connection–both hilarious and completely true). And just week, I’d mentally flagged kale chips as something to make soon! Thanks for being great, and for your blog which has the ability to brighten any day!
You know … your carrot apple ginger soup has been on my to-cook list for awhile, but I think it might have to be scootched down a place to make room for this recipe. What can I say, I’m a sucker for coconut milk.
The other night I discovered kale chips too. Then my dinner consisted of ginger carrot mango juice and kale chips. I didn’t mean to, it just happened.
1. I love lists, which is the first reason as to why I love this post.
2. You have toms! Toms are what I live in! You’re awesome!
3. Your number 2. just about made me get tears in my eyes. My boyfriend is moving for a job. And I have to stay since I’m just about done with college. So, I think I’ll watch him when he drives away and then start crying hysterically.
4. Thanks for telling us about fall foods. Especially Kale chips!
Joy–you’re the best! Thank you!
Although I loved everything about this post, I won’t lie… I was gearing up for a photo of mouthwateringly cheesy nachos! In all seriousness, though, props to you for maintaining such a positive attitude. And kale chips might be the only way to get my husband to eat kale. Well, that and the fact that it has the word “dinosaur” in it. He might find that pretty awesome.
this soup sounds amazing! i LOVE kale chips! i found a kale chip recipe in my father’s daughter and you can also do it at 400 degrees for 8 to 9 minutes.
Every winter I stuff my face with carrot + ginger soup from TJ’s…I’m sure this one is so much tastier. Plus, it has coconut milk. Sold!
I prefer to use this commenting, I’d rather not plaster my Facebook all over the internet for strangers to see.
But why can healthy food never taste as good as their unhealthy counterparts?
Life is HARD. But yummy food and good friends…and yummy cocktails with good friends…always helps. xo
Yum!!! I tried a boxed soup similar to this one once and it was amazing- I can only imagine how good the homemade stuff is.
I’m the same way with healthy/unhealthy food. If I eat one healthy meal, I just go crazy with the junk food so I just have to balance it all out somehow.
Joy! I totally thought curly kale was hard to remove from the stalk, too, until I read about it in my raw food cookbook (with lots of pretty pictures and recipes I never use because I’m lazy). You can just grip the base of the stalk and slide your other hand in a tight-ish fist all the way up the stalk– and the leaves all come off. It’s amazing and has changed the way I think about kale.
…Though I think I’ll still get dinosaur kale the next time I’m at the market because, c’mon.
Joy, how did you know I really needed this pep talk this morning exactly? However you knew that, thank you – I’m gonna root for myself like crazy today in a very tough situation, yes I am…and then I’m going to come home and make soup. Underdogs make the best soup. Thanks, lady. :)
This soup sounds amazingly good… I’ll definitely be making it soon. I’m never sure about peeling carrots – necessary? I can see in the pictures that you did… it just always seems like a lot of work.
The soup looks delicious and I’m having a love affair with kale right now so good timing on that! I like this whole underdog theory too.
carrot soup n kale chips washed down with a side of green smoothie
I don’t believe I’ve ever tried carrot soup. I think I’ll have to make some once it’s cold outside. I’m sorry your friend moved away. All of my favorite girl friends left after college—I think it’s about time for me to move away from this college town, too.
Joy, this sounds wonderful. I have enjoyed most of your soups and I can’t wait to try this one. You have a solid perspective on life chica – keep it up!
Kale chips for me and carrot soup for my daughter! Nice combo.
I dig your wisdom and always love your recipes. One lesson not to learn from a cat is don’t bathe in public. Nobody really wants to see that. ;-)
1) I like your yellow TOMS. Mine are green.
2) Initially, I typed the first point in CAPS lock. Oops. I fixed it so that you won’t think I’m mentally deficient.
3) Thanks for being both healthy and non-healthy. It makes me feel accepted, regardless of my simultaneous love affairs with sinfully delicious baking AND green things. It ain’t easy being green.
Britt
Your # 5 really hit home today, Joy.
Even when we’re mature in age, there’s still growing to be done, but it’s still hard and sometimes it still really SUCKS!! Yet looking back, I know it’s just a necessary cycle of life and growth is good because we come out on the other side wiser and stronger because of it.
So, cheers! Here’s to some good growth: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Enjoy your day!
I. Love. This. Post.
Found your blog through my (awesome) aunt.
I live in Chicago (a.k.a. Transient City) and every single one of my friends is leaving…one by one. It’s sad. But I still like it here. But what’s here for me? Ahhh… the struggle.
You have such a lovely way with words
The coconut is what got me hooked too. Carrots? Hmm. But coconut milk…now you’re talkin’. And you’re right. If you eat this wonderful meal, you can eat a plate of nachos and not feel guilty. I am a total nachos girl. My husband made kale chips and didn’t get all the stems off. Ew. Very important step. Thanks for making me want to eat a healthy meal.
More foods should be named after dinosaurs. Also I love the idea of adding coconut milk to this soup – I feel like it would make the whole thing taste a little more decadent!
I never knew there was a type of kale called dinosaur kale! How could anyone make kale chips with anything other than dinosaur kale? It’s just too cool sounding.
Play the Olympic song in my head…. got it! This will make the day better for sure!
The soup sounds amazing…I can’t wait to make it once the weather cools down a bit! And, those kale chips look so tasty!!!!
NOM. xxx
haha my cat is currently sitting on my desk rubbing her face all over my computer and trying to sit on my keyboard. I want her to go away, but she’s just so darn cute!! I need some soup.
Kale chips may be healthy but they are also delicious, great comfort food meal!
There totally are lots of lines at the laundromat.
What the heck is Old Bay seasoning? Also, I like how you made the soup to match your cat. Also, I am sorry your friend is gone. My sister is going to America for 6 months and I am going to cry and cry. (Yours lives in Seattle so you probably get me)
Jess
xx
I’m all for these kale chips. They need to become my new obsession and quick!
I am totally on board with healthy recipes at the moment and these both look awesome.
PS I’m rooting for you too.
Delicious looking soup…like everything you make!
Oh that look soooo GOOD! Its just what I’m feeling like. I’ve been having rough week and need something just like this. Just a quick question, Is there any alternative for Kale? I live in Fiji and there isn’t a whole foods store here – or anything close. :( and I’m totes needing this meal.
Oh and hi5 for being the underdog! They do always win. Annddd they never die either. ;)
Lovely! I was just trying to think of how to correct the damage done by the plum almond tarts and raspberry crostatas that the summer demanded. DEMANDED, I tell you. This is wonderful way. :)
I totally know what you mean about the under-dog always winning. They always do even if they come last. And no I didn’t look at you weird when you said that! :D (and we always cheer hardest for the under-dog in Australia)
Pps i want to smell his face.
I can totally get on the health food bandwagon with carrot soup and kale chips. Love both! And I would also very much like a gorgeous cat to keep me company. x
Yummy vegan! Yes Joy….yes. First comment?! I’m totally immature and proud to take first comment place. Ps i love your cat