Spicy Carrot & Potato soup

This is just the thing for a cold day and guaranteed to unblock the sinuses. Simple quick anyone can do this.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
• 1 Leek
• 500g carrots
• 100g potatoes
• teaspoon each of ground cumin, ground ginger & chilli flakes/powder
• 1 litre tepid water
• 1 vegetable or chicken stock cube
• Creme fraiche or cream (optional)

Boil a kettle for your stock.

Top and tail the leek but use all the rest. Chop roughly, clean through with water to remove any grit and add to the pot with the butter or oil.

Peel and roughly chop the carrots & potatoes and add to the pot.

Sprinkle with a little salt to bring out the flavours. Give everything a good stir and cook gently for 5 minutes to soften.

Add your spices and stir well so that all the vegetables are coated.

I like to finely grate the stock cube over the vegetables before adding the water but it's fine if you want to dissolve it in the water first.

Add the water and cook gently for 30 - 45 minutes until the veg has softened. I usually set the timer for 15 minutes and give it all a good stir each time.

At the end taste the soup but I would be surprised if you needed to add any seasoning.

Now optional of you want to leave as it is or blend the soup. I usually use a hand blender and roughly blitz about half the veg leaving you with a mix of textures.

Now time to eat. I like to add a dollop of half fat creme fraiche to the mix but it is not necessary.

Eat and enjoy.