Carrot Soup With Star Anise

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onions
• 6 large fresh thyme sprigs
• 5 whole star anise, divided
• 2 small bay leaves
• 1 large garlic clove, chopped
• 2 (1 lb) bags peeled baby carrots
• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth

Recipe

• 1 melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat.
• 2 add onion, thyme, 3 star anise (see note below), bay leaves, and garlic.
• 3 sauté until onion softens, about 5 minutes.
• 4 add carrots and broth.
• 5 bring to boil. cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until carrots are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• 6 remove and discard thyme sprigs, star anise, and bay leaves.
• 7 working in small batches, puree soup in blender until very smooth; return to same pot.
• 8 season with salt and pepper. (can be made 1 day ahead.
• 9 cool slightly, cover, and chill.
• 10 rewarm over low heat before continuing.
• 11 finely grind remaining star anise in spice mill or coffee grinder.
• 12 ladle soup into bowls.
• 13 sprinkle with ground star anise.
• 14 note: brown, star-shaped seedpods; available at some supermarkets, asian markets, and specialty foods stores.