Beetroot Soup with Greek Mint Yoghurt

My first real introduction to beetroot came when I attended a finishing school in Switzerland (they do still exist!!) one winter for a skiing programme. When you've been skiing for five hours, in the freezing cold, with aches and pains, food of any type is a welcome respite...! I remember how all of us students would enthusiastically fill our plates at the salad bar and its here that I became acquainted with the humble yet vibrant root vegetable.

Growing up we never cooked with beetroot at home, so when I moved to Zanzibar over a year ago in my happily married state I was eager to experiment and make use of what was fresh and available. My husband would buy me some occasionally and I loved adding it to chunky vegetable soups.

Now that I have cooked with beetroot a few times I find myself more and more ambitious to bring out its natural colour in meals. To my artists mind it can't be denied, the rich purple red it produces is simply gorgeous!

I really loved watching this soup come together, and I highly reccommend the mint Greek yoghurt as a pairing as it really gives the soup more texture and flavour.

Beetroot Soup with Mint Greek Yoghurt

Makes 3 servings

For the soup

2 medium beetroots, peeled and cubed

2 tblpsn olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove crushed garlic

1 large potato, peeled and cubed

2 cups vegetable or chicken stock

1/4 tspn black pepper

Salt, to taste

1 tblspn mint leaves, roughly chopped

Put beetroot in a small pan, covering with water and boil for about 15 minutes until slightly tender. Meanwhile, in a larger pan saute the onion in the olive oil. Add the garlic, and after a couple of minutes the potatoes. Stir well and let sit for a couple minutes before adding the stock. Once the potatoes are cooked through (about 10-15 minutes) add the beetroot along with the beetroot water. Add the salt and black pepper and let simmer for 2 minutes. Pour soup into a blender along with the mint leaves and blend well. Serve into soup bowls and add a couple of tablespoons of mint Greek yoghurt.

For the Mint Greek Yoghurt

1 cup Greek yoghurt

Pinch of salt

Squeeze of lemon juice

1 tblspn mint leaves, finely chopped

Mix all the ingredients together and serve onto soup.