Moroccan Sweet Potato Soup with Chickpeas

- Colleen
Sweet potato soup in a coconut shell bowl, topped with roasted chickpeas and parsley

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.

Bowl of sweet potato soup topped with lemon slices, roasted chickpeas, and parsley

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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5 from 15 votes
Sweet potato soup in a coconut shell bowl, topped with roasted chickpeas and parsley
Print
Moroccan Sweet Potato Soup
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
 

A blend of sweet potatoes and chickpeas spiced with the flavours of Morocco make this hearty, healthy and delicious soup a meal in itself.

Course: Soup
Cuisine: Moroccan
Keyword: chickpeas, sweet potatoes
Servings: 6
Calories: 192.22 kcal
Author: Colleen
Ingredients
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°

  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil

  3. Scrub sweet potatoes well, then poke several times with a fork

  4. Bake sweet potatoes on prepared pan in the center of oven 1 hour, or until tender

  5. In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat

  6. Add onion, celery, and garlic, and cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes, or until onions are translucent.

  7. Add cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, pepper flakes, caraway, and cinnamon. Cook and stir until fragrant.

  8. Add stock, chickpeas, and lemon juice and bring back to a boil

  9. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise, and scoop out the flesh, adding to the pot

  10. 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.

  11. Taste and season with salt & pepper

  12. Serve hot, with lemon wedges, hot sauce if desired, and garnished with parsley and Spiced Lemon Roasted Chickpeas

Recipe Notes

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.

Nutrition Facts
Moroccan Sweet Potato Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 192.22 Calories from Fat 52
% Daily Value*
Fat 5.78g9%
Saturated Fat 0.98g5%
Sodium 156.2mg7%
Potassium 585.67mg17%
Carbohydrates 28.06g9%
Fiber 6.47g26%
Sugar 3.67g4%
Protein 10.36g21%
Vitamin A 6442.39IU129%
Vitamin C 12.66mg15%
Calcium 74.45mg7%
Iron 2.6mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

 

 

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28 thoughts on “Moroccan Sweet Potato Soup with Chickpeas”

  2. 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!

  3. 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!

  4. 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!

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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!

  8. 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!

  9. 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!

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