Step 1

To a Dutch oven or a large soup pot, heat some oil over medium-low heat. Once hot, add onion, ginger, and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until lightly golden. Stir often to prevent burning.

Step 2

Then, add your whole spices- coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and a cinnamon stick, as well as the tomato paste and chili flakes (optional). Stir and cook for 2 more minutes.

Step 3

Add the sweet potatoes, carrots, vegetable broth, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil. Simmer on medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.

Step 4

Remove the cinnamon stick. Add in the coconut milk and stir. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until creamy. If are using a standard blender it's important to let the soup cool a bit before transferring it. Don't fill the jar more than halfway and make sure that you leave the hole in the lid open so that heat can escape.

Step 5

Pour the soup back to the pot and add any additional broth or water if you need to thin it out. At this point, you can taste and adjust the flavor if needed- more salt for saltiness, some lime juice for tang, or black pepper for a kick.

Step 6

Serve immediately and top with some croutons, crispy chickpeas, or fresh herbs (all optional).