CURRIED SWEET POTATO-APPLE SOUP

This soup has just became my new favorite!  The curried sweet potato-apple soup is bursting with flavor, so complex with the combination of the curry powder and sweet potatoes.  The apple sauce is an ingredient I never would think to use in a soup but it helps create a creamier soup without using sour cream or heavy cream.  This is a cheap meal to make and will have plenty of leftovers the next day.

Ingredients
(Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine)

* 3 medium sweet potatoes
* 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, smashed
* 1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish
* 1 1/2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
* Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
* 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
* 1 1/4 cups chunky applesauce
* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
* 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Peel and dice 2 1/2 sweet potatoes. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ginger, nutmeg, 1 1/4 teaspoons curry powder, and salt and pepper to taste and cook until toasted, 1 more minute.

Add the diced sweet potatoes, chicken broth and 2 cups water to the pot, cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and stir in the applesauce. Simmer, covered, until the sweet potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Puree the soup with a blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper; keep warm.

Meanwhile, peel and thinly slice the remaining 1/2 sweet potato and toss with the olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until crisp, 7 to 10 minutes.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon curry powder and cook, stirring, until browned; remove from the heat and add the vinegar. Top with the curry butter, cilantro and sweet-potato chips.