Carrots ARE Golden! (Tesco Fresh Carrot and Coriander Soup)

Name: katestuartuk

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Product:	Tesco Fresh Carrot and Coriander Soup
Date:	19/09/06 (194 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Full of health benefits, very tasty, conveniently packaged.

Disadvantages: You'll wish you had room for more....!

*****Tesco Carrot and Coriander Soup*****


*****The Humble Carrot*****

In case you didn’t know already, carrots are really good for you. The health benefits of carrots have been heralded with the dawn since Greek and Roman times, and as far as how fantastic they are, nothing much has changed about them since then.

Carrots are orange because they’re full of beta-carotene, hence the lovely title of CARROTS. And whether you’re a budding Bugs Bunny, or just a regular normal rabbit, carrots can make a big difference in how you feel. Let me tell you a little about the humble carrot…..


…did you know that carrots help protect you from all sorts of cancers? They have been proven to help fight off Listeria and other food poisoning type bugs. They lower your cholesterol, and boost the immune system. They can help with alleviating the symptoms of chronic fatigue, and get this, they can help promote lactation in nursing mothers. They are full of fibre, vitamin A, folic acid, iron and much, much more. In short, they are golden food from the gods and we should all be eating more!!

One way you can increase your carrot intake if you’re busy and haven’t time for making juices and smoothies etc, is with Tesco Carrot and Coriander Soup.


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*****Pa ckaging*****

The soup comes in a handy 600g microwaveable plastic pot. The plastic pot is recyclable, though no details on whether it is made from recycled materials. My guess is probably not. The label is green, with white writing, and a fresh, colourful picture of a bunch of carrots on the front. The plastic pot is clear, so you can see the soup, which is a lovely creamy orange colour. The label states that the soup is “bursting with that full on carrot flavour and seasoned with coriander”. The label also shows cooking times, freezing guidelines, ingredients and nutritional values.


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*****Cooking*****

To cook on the hob, pour the contents into a heavy bottomed saucepan and heat slowly for 5-6 minutes until piping hot. Don’t let it boil or the cream in it will go funny (and start telling jokes…!)
To microwave, which is how I always cook this soup, break the tab on the top of the pot, lid the lid and stir the soup up a bit, pop the lid over the top again, but don’t seal, and place on a plate. If you have a 850 watt (cat E) microwave like me, you heat on full power for 2 ½ minutes, leave it for 1 minute, and heat for a further 2 minutes. Make sure you stir it before serving to ensure it is piping hot right through.


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*****Taste*****

Now this is the fun bit. I had this soup for my tea this evening, as I knew I’d be writing about it later. It has a creamy consistency, and is very smooth, so no great big lumps of carrot to contend with. Usually, this soup has very fine slivers of carrot, which are perfect in the soup, but for some reason the pot I bought on the way home from work tonight didn’t – not sure if they’ve changed the format, or if it was just a rogue pot! The soup has a very full bodied carrot flavour, but it is complemented by the coriander, the nutmeg and the orange concentrate, so that what you actually experience is quite a sweet, aromatic soup. I like to add a lot of black pepper to my soup, and occasionally, if I’m feeling bad, a pinch of salt. The soup is not overly salty, as many ready meals are, and contains only 1.0g of salt per ½ tub. But to be fair, it is perfect even without the black pepper overload, as the seasoning is very precise and in my opinion, spot on.


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**** *Serving Suggestions*****

This evening I had my soup (and I had the whole pot!!) in a heavy pottery bowl, with a hunk of fresh break and real butter. I put 10 turns of freshly ground black pepper on and tucked in. Sometimes I like to eat this soup from a mug, with a tablespoon of grated cheese, and it is delicious served with garlic croutons, a swirl of fresh cream and a tablespoon of freshly chopped coriander.
As a starter, this pot of soup will serve 2 people easily. If you’re having it as a main meal, then a full pot is very satisfying and filling.


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*****Ingredients*****

Vegetable stock,
Carrot (43%),
Onion,
Single Cream (4%),
Vegetable Oil,
Corn flour,
Butter,
Orange Concentrate,
Coriander (0.2%),
Salt,
Black Pepper,
Coriander Seeds,
Nutmeg.


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*****Nutrition*****

Half a pot of this soup contains:
99 kcal
1.9g saturated fat
1.0g salt


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** ***Other Information*****

I find it very handy to have a pot of this in the freezer for late night when I get home from work and can’t be bothered to cook (like tonight!). As this is a fresh soup, always try to freeze the day you buy it, and use it within one month. I take mine out of the freezer and let it defrost for 12 hours in the fridge before eating it, as the guideline suggests, but if I’m in a hurry, I pop it in the microwave and hit the defrost button, then cook according to the guidelines. Seems to work a treat!
The soup is suitable for Vegetarians, but contains milk products, and can’t be guaranteed to be free from nuts.


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** ***Costs and Availability*****

A 600g pot of Tosco’s Carrot and Coriander soup will set you back £1.17 and it seems to be available from most Tesco stores – I got mine this evening from the local garage which is also a mini supermarket, and I know it is also available online at www.tesco.com.


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*****What I Thought of This Soup*****

I really enjoy this soup. I love the taste and the ease of use – the fact I can pick one up on my way to work in the winter and pop it in the microwave in the rest room on my break makes for no-hassle lunches that keep me warm and full throughout the day. It’s also great as a starter, or as supper when you haven’t got the energy for anything else. And because of the health benefits, I know this is counting towards my daily intake of fruit and veg, so it makes me feel very positive about it. I can highly recommend this soup to anyone who like carrots, and even if you don’t you really should try – they are so good for you, and you might be pleasantly surprised at how nice they taste!

Thank you for reading, Kate x

Summary: A delicious soup made from carrots and cream.