Sweet Potato Soup is delicious when spiced with Moroccan flavours and brightened with fresh lemon juice.
sweet potato soupWhy 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:
- A swirl of creme fraiche, sour cream, or Greek yogurt
- A swirl of olive, grapeseed, or chili oil
- A few speckles of hot sauce, especially harissa
- A tablespoon of chopped peanuts, walnuts, or pecans
- A few crispy fried sage leaves
- A sprinkle of chopped bacon
- A few croutons
- A sprinkle of paprika
Looking for More Sweet Potato Goodness? Try These:
Gluten and Dairy Free Sweet Potato Scallop
Egg, Sweet Potato & Mushroom Skillet
Apple & Sweet Potato Turkey Bake
Sweet Potato Soup with Black Beans and Corn
Salmon & Sweet Potato Frittata
How to Make Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potato Soup
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A blend of sweet potatoes and chickpeas spiced with the flavours of Morocco make this hearty, healthy and delicious soup a meal in itself.
- 2 sweet potatoes medium
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion medium, diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp ground caraway seed
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 6 cups vegetable stock low sodium
- 18 oz can chickpeas drained
- 1 lemon juiced
- salt & pepper to taste
- parsely for garnish
Preheat oven to 400°
Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil
Scrub sweet potatoes well, then poke several times with a fork
Bake sweet potatoes on prepared pan in the center of oven 1 hour, or until tender
In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat
Add onion, celery, and garlic, and cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes, or until onions are translucent.
Add cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, pepper flakes, caraway, and cinnamon. Cook and stir until fragrant.
Add stock, chickpeas, and lemon juice and bring back to a boil
Slice potatoes in half lengthwise, and scoop out the flesh, adding to the pot
Use an immersion blender right in the pot to puree the soup, blending until smooth, or, transfer in batches to a blender, using care not to overfill, and keeping the vent open.
Taste and season with salt & pepper
Serve hot, with lemon wedges, hot sauce if desired, and garnished with parsley and Spiced Lemon Roasted Chickpeas
You can roast the sweet potatoes ahead of time (maybe while you have something else in the oven) and store them in the fridge until you're ready to make the soup.
If you like more spice, you can increase the red pepper flakes, but I would recommend using a hot sauce at serving time so that people can add more spice according to their preference. Harissa is a perfect hot sauce for this soup.
This soup has so much flavor and is a very satisfying meal
So happy that you liked it, Haley!
Sweet potato soup is one of my absolute faves, this moroccan version looks so delicious!!
Chris, if you’re a fan of sweet potato soup, you will love this one!
We love the bright color, and we love the flavors! Such a great soup.
Hi Anita, so happy you enjoyed this yummy soup. We love the colour, too!
I love Moroccan food, I am sure i will also love this one! I cannot wait to try it.
Hi Mirlene, I know you’ll love this soup if you love Moroccan flavours. Enjoy!
Oh wow! This soup has everything. It is full of flavor and healthy. Loved it.
So glad you loved it, Krissy!
This soup looks like a ray of sunshine on this snowy winter day. (And let me just say that I am not okay with the fact that there’s already snow on the ground in November. Uuuuuugh.) I love the combination of Moroccan spices and the roasted chickpeas for garnish. Definitely going on my must-make list!
Thanks Isabelle. We woke up to our first dusting of snow this morning, too. At least this soup is a good way to stay warm. Enjoy!
This soup is gorgeous Colleen! It looks so thick, creamy and smooth, and I love the colour! I could totally go for a bowl or two right now! Pinning!
Thanks Leanne!
Oh man this soup sounds amazing and just what we need as it starts to snow here on the East Coast. Thanks for sharing a great recipe I can add to my weekly meal plan!
You’re so welcome Kelly! Enjoy, and stay warm 🙂
I love this soup idea, Colleen. Sweet Potatoes are so versatile and so delicious and the idea of making soup with this vegetable is terrific. That is a great tip to serve the soup with hot sauce at the table for those folks who like more spiciness and for those who don’t or can’t (like the little ones in our families). Many thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Denise! Enjoy this soup. It is so good!
Amazing! Love how vibrant this soup is and those coconut bowls are so sweet. I love a good healthy soup recipe and can’t wait to try this one out.
Thanks Bernice! I hope you love it!
This soup sounds absolutely incredible. We love sweet potato soup at our house, so this will definitely squeeze into our rotation. Can’t wait to make it!
Thanks Kristen, I hope you are able to squeeze this one in. You’ll be glad you did, I promise!
I love Moroccan flavours, and this soup hits all the right notes for me! Also, are those bowls meant to look like coconuts, they look so cool!
Hi Matt, hope you love this delicious soup. And the bowls are actual cococnut shells. 🙂
Yum! I love a simple soup that has a different twist. These unique and spicy flavours are truly delicious, I’ll be making this recipe over and over!
So glad you loved it, Sabrina!
I’ve never had sweet potato soup and that needs to change. This sounds amazing and I adore those soup bowls!
Terri, you do need sweet potato soup in your life, asap! 🙂