Chickpea cream soup with ginger

Chickpea Cream Soup with Ginger - A Culinary Journey Inspired by 1001 Nights

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Servings: 2

I invite you to discover a recipe for chickpea cream soup with ginger, a delicacy inspired by the flavors of the Middle East that will bring a touch of magic to your plate. This soup is not only nourishing but also refreshing, making it perfect for hot summer days or for moments when you need comfort. Get ready to transform simple ingredients into something truly special.

Necessary ingredients:
- 450 g canned chickpeas (with brine)
- 100 g celery (about one stalk)
- 3 parsley roots (firm and fresh)
- 200 ml sweet cream
- 1 piece of fresh ginger (about 2 cm)
- Freshly ground pepper (to taste)
- Thyme leaves (for decoration)
- HapiHap bread croutons (optional)

Step 1: Preparing the ingredients
Start by peeling and cutting the celery and parsley roots into smaller pieces. These vegetables will add a wonderful flavor to your soup. If you don’t have parsley roots, you can also use fresh green parsley for a more vibrant taste at the end.

Step 2: Boiling the vegetables
In a medium pot, add the celery and parsley roots along with enough water to cover the vegetables, and let them boil for about 15-20 minutes until they become tender. This step is essential for extracting the flavor from the vegetables.

Step 3: Adding the chickpeas
Once the vegetables are boiled, add the chickpeas along with the brine. The brine will help enhance the flavor of the soup, so there’s no need to add extra salt. Let everything boil for 2-3 minutes to allow the chickpeas to heat up and the flavors to meld.

Step 4: Grating the ginger
After the chickpeas are heated, take a grater and grate the ginger directly into the pot. Fresh ginger will give the soup a warming note and an unmistakable aroma. Mix the ingredients well.

Step 5: The cream addition
Add the sweet cream to the pot and season with freshly ground pepper. If you don’t have a pepper grinder, I recommend investing in one, as the flavor of freshly ground pepper is incomparable.

Step 6: Blending the soup
Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until it becomes a smooth and homogeneous cream. Make sure the blender is set to high speed to achieve a perfect consistency. In about a minute, you’ll have a creamy, nourishing, and highly fragrant soup.

Step 7: Serving
Pour the chickpea cream soup into bowls and decorate with thyme leaves, which not only look good but also add an extra hint of flavor. You can serve the soup alongside toasted HapiHap bread croutons for a crunchy contrast.

Possible variations:
- You can also add other spices like cumin or coriander to enhance the Eastern flavors.
- Substitute chickpeas with lentils for a different but equally nourishing variant.
- Add vegetables like carrot or zucchini for a more colorful and nutrient-rich option.

This chickpea cream soup with ginger is not just food for the body but also a true culinary story that will transport you to the fascinating world of the Middle East, turning every meal into an unforgettable experience. Enjoy it with love!