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Spicy Instant Pot Carrot Harissa Soup

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This Spicy Instant Pot Carrot Harissa Soup is a creamy, vegan-friendly blend of carrots, roasted bell pepper, harissa, tahini, and coconut milk. It’s smoky, spicy, and slightly sweet—comforting and deeply flavorful with minimal hands-on time thanks to the Instant Pot.

  • Author: Sophia
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern-Inspired
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

1 large red bell pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil (plus more for roasting)

1 large sweet onion, diced

1½ pounds carrots, scrubbed and roughly chopped

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

2-inch piece fresh ginger, grated or finely minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

3 tablespoons harissa sauce

1 bay leaf

2¼ cups low-sodium vegetable broth

¼ cup tahini

1 (13.5 oz) can lite coconut milk

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Garnishes: chopped scallions and cilantro

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place bell pepper on an oiled baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes. Flip and roast another 20 minutes until charred. Cover with a bowl to steam for 15 minutes, then peel, deseed, and slice.
  2. Turn Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, onion, garlic, and ginger with a pinch of salt. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, and harissa. Cook for 1 minute to bloom spices.
  4. Add carrots, bay leaf, roasted bell pepper, remaining salt, pepper, and vegetable broth. Stir to combine.
  5. Seal the Instant Pot lid and pressure cook on high for 20 minutes.
  6. Manually release pressure. Remove bay leaf. Blend soup until smooth using an immersion blender or regular blender in batches.
  7. Stir in tahini, coconut milk, and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  8. Serve hot, garnished with chopped scallions and cilantro.

Notes

  • Swap red bell pepper with orange for a sweeter profile.
  • Add extra harissa or chili flakes for more heat.
  • Stir in cooked chickpeas or white beans for added protein and texture.
  • Use high-quality tahini for the best flavor.
  • This soup freezes beautifully—cool completely before freezing in portions.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savorymomskitchen.com/spicy-instant-pot-carrot-harissa-soup/