Dinner

Carrot Soup with Spiced Ground Beef and Pine Nuts Recipe

ByMariam Harutyunyan November 15, 2025November 15, 2025

Introduction

This Carrot Soup with Spiced Ground Beef and Pine Nuts is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for chilly days. The sweetness of the carrots blends beautifully with fragrant curry and rich ground beef, topped with toasty pine nuts for added texture. It’s an easy recipe that brings warmth and excitement to your table.

A white bowl holds a rich, orange creamy soup filling most of the space, with swirls of white cream mixed throughout the surface. On one side, a torn piece of soft beige bread topped with fresh green chopped herbs rests partially dipped in the soup. In the middle, there is a generous layer of dark browned minced meat mixed with small beige pine nuts and more green herbs, creating a textured, crumbly look. Thin, translucent rings of raw onion add light purple accents around the meat. A silver spoon is partially submerged on the right side, lightly stirring the soup. The bowl is set on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 yellow onion, sliced

2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons Better Than Bouillon beef flavor base

2 teaspoons hot madras curry powder (regular curry powder works, too)
1 14-ounce can coconut milk

3 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef

1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon beef flavor base
1 teaspoon garam masala

1/3 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
A bit of lemon zest

Thinly sliced shallot (optional, recommended)
Plain yogurt (for serving)
Flatbread (for serving)

Instructions

Step 1: Heat a soup pot over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sauté the sliced onions, carrot chunks, 2 tablespoons beef flavor base, and curry powder together for 3-5 minutes until fragrant.
Step 2: Add 3 1/2 cups water to the pot and bring to a simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes until the carrots are tender.
Step 3: Stir in the coconut milk. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Heat a large skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Add tomato paste, 2 teaspoons beef flavor base, and garam masala to the cooked beef. Sauté for 2-3 minutes to develop rich flavor.
Step 6: Stir in pine nuts, parsley, and lemon zest. Cook until pine nuts are toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Step 7: Serve the soup hot, topped with a scoop of the spiced ground beef mixture. Add thinly sliced shallots, a swirl of plain yogurt, and flatbread on the side if desired.

Tips & Variations

Use regular curry powder if hot madras is unavailable; adjust quantity based on your preferred spice level.
For a vegetarian version, swap ground beef with spiced lentils or sautéed mushrooms.

Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan beforehand for extra crunch and nuttiness.
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the soup just before serving to brighten the flavors.

Storage

Store leftover soup and ground beef mixture separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the soup gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally. The beef topping can be warmed in a skillet over medium heat until heated through.

How to Serve

A white bowl filled with a thick orange curry soup that has a smooth, creamy texture and is swirled lightly with white cream. On the left side of the bowl, a piece of white naan bread with a soft, fluffy texture is partially dipped in the curry and sprinkled with chopped green herbs. In the center of the curry, there is a heap of dark brown crispy bits, likely fried lentils or spices, topped with small golden pine nuts and more green herbs. Thin, translucent rings of red onion are scattered lightly over the top. A gold spoon is placed inside the bowl on the right side, partially submerged in the curry. The woman's hand holding the bowl has a denim sleeve visible, and the background shows a white marbled texture surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes, this soup actually tastes better after the flavors have melded for a few hours. Prepare both the soup and ground beef topping in advance, then reheat before serving.

What can I use instead of Better Than Bouillon beef flavor base?

If you don’t have Better Than Bouillon, you can substitute with beef broth or bouillon cubes dissolved in water, adjusting salt accordingly to maintain the rich, savory flavor.