Forget an après glass of Champagne. After a long day on the slopes battling near-freezing temperatures, all I could dream about on a recent ski trip to Beaver Creek Village in Colorado was a bowl of the carrot soup—from Citrea’s, a Mediterranean-style restaurant that brings to life some of the Centennial State’s finest flavors—that replenished my depleted energy stores and warmed my heart and soul.

Fortunately, the restaurant’s executive chef Ryan Little gave me the recipe to take home (and share with all of you).

How to make a healthy roasted carrot soup like a professional chef

Pop quiz: Is it better to roast or boil carrots when making soup? Little’s answer is simple: whichever cooking method will yield the most golden-brown veggies to add even more depth of flavor and dimension to what would otherwise be a potentially very bland dish. That’s because, according to Little, the secret to making a restaurant-worthy, luscious, and creamy carrot soup boils down to one thing: caramelization, aka the Maillard reaction.

The trick? Caramelizing not only the carrots but all of the veggies to unlock unholy levels of umami. Plus, Little’s version of roasted carrot soup gets help from a few tasty anti-inflammatory spices like cinnamon, cumin, and cayenne that add smokiness and heat. “Although roasting would also work to caramelize, I find caramelizing by sautéing the carrots with the other ingredients develops the flavor nicely,” he says. So just know you have options when it comes to this part of the process. Either way, a chemical reaction occurs between amino acids and reducing sugars in the food, giving way to a browned color and classic caramelized taste. Then, and only then, are the ingredients prepped and primed for turning into soup.

Tips for troubleshooting a bland-tasting soup

1. Adjust the seasoning as you go

So, you roasted or sautéed all of your veggies, but something still isn’t quite right. Little says one of the most common mistakes he encounters when making soup is a severe lack of seasoning. A simple way to troubleshoot this common error: Taste as you go (a phrase chefs live and die by). “In my carrot soup recipe, I recommend blending and tasting each batch, that way you can season it to exactly what you want it to taste like,” he explains.

2. Avoid adding too many mismatched ingredients

Another common mistake? “Overthinking the recipe and adding too many ingredients,” Little says. “A soup can be beautifully simple. To make my carrot soup recipe, you want to taste the carrot because it’s the star of the dish,” he says. This is where the chef urges folks to unleash their creative freedom and balance the flavors to best satisfy their palate. “A recipe is just a baseline—you should be tasting as you go and can follow your instincts to what you think may highlight the carrot flavor.”

3. Make use of flavor-enhancing ingredients to find harmony

To this end, Little says don’t be afraid to tap into a few surprising ingredients to help transform carrot’s vitamin-rich, immune-boosting, and anti-inflammatory properties into something spectacular. Is the soup too acidic? A touch of maple syrup can add a hint of sweetness. Or, if you need some heat and prefer a spicy roasted carrot soup? A little jalapeño can do the trick.

“I also love adding a little lemon juice and just a pinch of cayenne pepper to heighten the flavors,” Little says. “Or, depending on the flavor profile, a splash of sriracha is also a great addition.”

To turn this into a protein-rich soup, simply add the protein source of your choice—and garnish with ingredients like toasted hazelnuts or roasted pepitas.

4. Enlist the help of the right cooking tools

The number-one tool on Little’s list may surprise you, but it makes so much sense: It’s your palate. “Tasting as you go is what will make the dish best,” he says. But, of course, there are a few other things you’ll need to make this roasted carrot soup recipe a success, such as a good, sharp knife, a large pot, a conical-shaped, fine-mesh strainer (for a creamier texture), and a blender (a blender soup necessity, obvi).

Pro tip: Too many carrots leftover? Keep carrots in water so they’ll stay fresher for longer. However, you’ll need to change out the water frequently to avoid the potential growth of any harmful bacteria. Consider using the leftovers to make this raw carrot salad backed with immune-boosting benefits.

Moroccan-inspired spiced carrot soup recipe

Yields 5 servings 

IngredientsCooking oil of choice10 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped1 yellow onion, roughly chopped2 stalks celery, roughly chopped5 cloves garlic, peeled, whole3 knobs ginger, peeled and roughly chopped2 cups white wine5 cups water1 teaspoon cinnamon2 tsp cumin1 tablespoon lemon juice1 Tbsp orange juicePinch of cayenne pepperHoney, to taste (can substitute with maple syrup)Salt, to tasteButter, to taste (can substitute with vegan option)

1. Heat a stainless steel pot over medium heat, and cover the bottom with oil. Add carrots, onions, celery, garlic, ginger, and caramelize. (Alternatively, toss the veggies in oil and roast them on a parchment-lined sheet pan at 425°F for about 20 minutes, or until cooked through and slightly charred then transfer to a steel pot heated over medium.)2. Pour the white wine into the pot, then add the remaining ingredients.3. Bring to a boil, and simmer until carrots are soft.4. Blend in batches with butter, salt, and honey to taste in each batch.5. Strain through a chinois (conical-shaped, fine-mesh strainer).6. Serve with candied hazelnuts as garnish if desired, and enjoy!

Because you can never have too many immune-boosting roasted carrot soup recipes in your arsenal: