A gorgeous, healthy, and very tasty beet soup that is elegant, yet simple to make. Beets and sauteed onions and garlic simmer in vegetable stock before being finished with a swirl of coconut milk. Velvety smooth, impress your guests with this soup as a first course, as it t goes great with crusty bread and champagne.

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:
For the Potato Croutons:
2  /2 pounds potatoes, peeled and diced
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Kosher salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste

For the Beet Soup:
2 Tablespoons olive  oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Kosher salt, to  taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
2½ pounds beets, peeled and coarsely chopped
6 cups vegetable stock
Juice of 1 lemon
One 13-ounce can of coconut milk
Chopped fresh dill, for garnish (optional)
Sliced scallions, for garnish (optional)

Directions:
For the Potato Croutons:
Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Place the potatoes in a large saucepan of water, add the vinegar and salt to taste and boil until very soft. Drain the potatoes, and return them to the saucepan. Holding the lid on tightly, shake the pan to fluff up the edges of the potatoes.

Transfer the potatoes to a baking tray, and toss in a generous amount of  olive oil. Spread them out into a single layer. Season with salt,black pepper thyme and toss to coat.

Roast the potatoes for about 25 minutes, then turn each piece of potato over. Return to the oven for  another 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oven and set aside.

For the Beet Soup:
Put the oil in a large pot over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the beets and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, then add the stock.

Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat so the mixture simmers gently. Cook until the vegetables are fully soft and tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Add the lemon juice  the coconut milk and purée with a blender.Blend until smooth – if you find th too thick at this point then add water until you reached your desired consistency.Taste and adjust the seasoning,with salt and pepper.

Place the soup into a saucepan and let it heat up to the perfect eating temperature.

To serve, pour the soup into bowls and sprinkle each bowl with the roast potato croutons.

Garnished with the  dill or scallions, if desired.

The soup can be served cold as well. Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to several days.