Sweet Potato, Bacon and Beer Soup

The cool weather is finally here and its time to get some soup on the stove. This great rib sticking recipe for sweet potato, bacon and beer soup is hearty, flavorful and full of healthy vegetables.

I like to start this soup by sautéing some smoky bacon in a heavy pot until it is crispy and then remove. The next step to create a solid foundation of flavor is to sauté the onion, celery, carrots (a mire poix) and sweet potatoes in the bacon fat until they have browned well. This is going to caramelize the vegetables and get the flavors flowing.

Next, add chicken stock and fall themed beer to the pot, enough to cover the veggies. This is a great season for fall beers and your choice will certainly effect the flavor of your soup. I like to go with the new pumpkin flavored beers that are full with spice and caramel flavors. You can also use IPA's or amber and copper ales that will give the your soup a full robust flavor. If you don't like beer you can add a bottle of ginger ale or ginger beer for a great flavor. Simmer the soup covered for 35 minutes and during that time you can skim off any foam, fat and impurities that may float to the top.

After the vegetables are soft, you can do one of two things to the texture of your soup. If you like it chunky, leave it alone, but if you like it smooth you can blend it with a hand blender and strain out the solids and will give you a smooth and rich texture. The last step in creating an awesome texture in your soup is to add a bit of cream, which will lighten up the soup nicely.

Before serving the soup it is important to expand the flavor spectrum. This sounds complicated, but is actually very simple by adding a pinch of salt and warm spices like pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger) to your pot. A drop of apple cider vinegar and maple syrup will also bring out the naturals flavors in your vegetables and fall beers. I also like to finish the soup with a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat. Serve the soup piping hot in big heavy bowl and garnish with your choice of sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, crispy bacon, green onion, chives or a dollop of sour cream.

Sweet Potato, Bacon and Beer Soup

• 4 oz Bacon, Chopped
• 1 Onion, Diced
• 3 Celery, Diced
• 2 Carrots, Diced
• 8 C Sweet Potato, Diced
• 2 qts Chicken Stock
• 12 oz Fall Beer or Ginger Beer
• 8 oz Cream
• 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
• ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 3 oz Maple Syrup
• 2 tbs Apple Cider Vinegar