Sweet Potato Soup is delicious when spiced with Moroccan flavours and brightened with fresh lemon juice.

Sweet potato soup in a coconut shell bowl, topped with roasted chickpeas and parsley — sweet potato soup

Why Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potato Soup?

Sweet potatoes are, well, sweet. And, dishes made with them often enhance this sweetness even further, with maple syrup, and baking spices. However, for this recipe, I'm going to give the sweet potato a spicy spin.

Because of their sweetness, sweet potatoes lend themselves well to a little spice. Moroccan spices of coriander, cumin, cinnamon, chili peppers, caraway seeds, turmeric, and paprika, along with fresh lemon juice, are a delicious complement to the creamy sweetness of this beautiful orange tuber.

Sweet Potato or Yam, What's the Difference?

Yams and sweet potatoes are often confused or used interchangeably, when, in fact, they are two different veggies. Yams are not sweet and they have white, starchy flesh. They are a common ingredient in West African and Caribbean cooking.

Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are sweet, of course. There are several varieties and the flesh colours can be purple, white, and of course, orange. Orange sweet potatoes are the ones that we (in North America) most commonly use in recipes, and as side dishes to our holiday meals.

Is Sweet Potato Soup Healthy?

Sweet potatoes are high in fibre and very filling. Most importantly, they are a rich source of beta carotene, which converts to Vitamin A in the body, as well as Vitamin C and potassium. Additionally, sweet potatoes are also a good source of B vitamins and minerals.

However, sweet potatoes are not a good source of protein.

Which is where chickpeas come in. This sweet potato soup contains chickpeas, both in the soup itself, and optionally, to top it off with these Spiced Lemon Roasted Chickpeas. Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are very high in protein, as well as fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

Lastly, for more info about sweet potato nutrition, check out this evidence-based article: 6 Surprising Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

How to Garnish Moroccan Sweet Potato Soup

You can use any garnish you like, or none at all. I used, as mentioned, spiced lemon roasted chickpeas, parsley, and lemon slices. If you like cilantro, it would be perfect in place of the parsley. Some other garnish ideas are: