Cajun Spiced Sweet Potato Soup

The July cold hit us a few weeks ago and I went looking for a new soup recipe. I love sweet potato and I love cajun spices, so this Cajun Spiced Sweet Potato Soup was going to hit the spot. In winter I love the warmth of spices and this cajun spice mix works for so many recipes every time. Combine it with the creaminess of sweet potato and split peas and you have a winning recipe. I served it with slices of my Zucchini and Olive Bread toasted.

Cajun Spiced Sweet Potato Soup

A warm and hearty soup with loads of flavour! Perfect for a winter’s night.

• Ingredients:
• Coconut oil or butter
• 600-700 grams Kumara or sweet potato (peeled and diced into 1 cm cubes)
• 1 bunch chives or garlic chives or brown onion finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves finely diced
• 2 celery stalks finely diced
• 1-2 teaspoons cajun spice mix (add and taste and adjust)
• Up to 1 cup yellow or green split peas
• 1.5 lts chicken or vegetable stock
• 3-4 stalks Kale (stalks removed and leaves shredded)
• 2 tbs chopped Italian parsley
• Salt and White pepper to season

1. Melt coconut oil or butter in a large pan over medium heat.
2. Add chives or onion, garlic and celery and cook stirring until vegetables are soft but not browned.
3. Add cajun spices and cook until fragrant.
4. Add seasoning.
5. Add split peas and stock and bring to the boil then turn heat down and simmer for 30 minutes or until peas are tender.
6. Add sweet potato and cook until tender (approx 10 minutes)
7. When sweet potato is tender, blend the soup with a stick blender, blending only portions so you still have some chunks left in it.
8. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
9. Sprinkle over parsley and serve with Zucchini and Olive Bread.

If you are following a fodmap diet, then you can omit the split peas. Depending on your tolerance level you may be able to tolerate a smaller amount. You could add in another vegetable such as zucchini or fresh peas.

This recipe is:

• Dairy Free (omit butter or use coconut oil or ghee)
• Gluten Free
• Fodmap – you can omit split peas and add in another vegetable (see notes)