Step 1

Preheat a large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the oil, if using, and cook the onion for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, and several turns of freshly cracked black pepper. Stir and cook for about 1 minute.

Step 2

Add the white sweet potatoes, broth, water, bay leaf, and ½ teaspoon fine sea salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, and cook covered for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.

Step 3

Remove the bay leaf, and let the soup cool for a few minutes. Now it's time to blend. Use an immersion blender or work in batches using a regular stand blender. NOTE: Hot liquids may expand in a stand blender. So use caution, and only blend small portions at a time.

Step 4

Once the soup is blended, taste and decide which flavors you'd like to add or enhance. I like to add the vinegar, 2 Tbsp vegan butter, about ¾ cup lite coconut milk, additional black pepper, and several dashes each of cayenne and white pepper.

Step 5

Serve hot with croutons or crusty bread and crumbled vegan feta or Parmesan cheese. This soup pairs well with a variety of different main dishes, salads, and sides.