This soup was destined to be made! It started off with a couple of very sad, very elderly bunches of coriander discovered lurking at the back of the fridge. “We must do something with them!” exclaimed Tried and Supplied founder, Domini Hogg.

We also had an orange. So, we had most of the essentials to make something approximating the recipe contributed by Jekka McVicar to the compendium of celebrity recipes published as A Taste Of Home, to support the charity for the homeless, The Passage. Only the carrots were lacking.

A few hours later, one of the rest of us, unbriefed, found the hapless, sorry-looking coriander and despatched it, forthwith, to the rubbish, just as a volunteered shopper was coming through the door with the missing carrots.

The following day, the coriander was sought, unsuccessfully. The volunteered shopper was sent out again. And finally all ingredients were present and correct.

This recipe, as you would expect from the renowned herb specialist, Jekka McVicar, uses an unprecedented amount of coriander, making the soup smell and taste fresh, fragrant and grassy. I’ve kept broadly to her recipe, but added in the vermouth, which gives a bit of sophistication and depth.

Recipe for carrot, coriander and orange soup inspired by the Queen of Herbs

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Serves – 3

Ingredients

• 1 big bunch of coriander – about 100g/3 oz
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 4 large carrots
• 1 onion
• 900 ml/3¾ cups vegetable or chicken stock
• Juice of an orange – 4-5 tbsps/¼-⅓ cup
• 80 ml/⅓ cup dry vermouth (I use Noilly Prat)
• Smoked salt and a pinch of Urfa pepper flakes
• Pomegranate molasses to drizzle over

Instructions

1. Get the oil heating in a medium saucepan, while you peel and roughly chop the carrots. Add them to the saucepan. Peel and slice the onion, and add that.
2. Roughly chop the coriander, using the fresh part of the stems.
3. Boil your kettle and make your stock.
4. When the onion has softened, add the stock.
5. Bring to the boil, and simmer for about fifteen minutes – until the carrots are soft.
6. Add the orange juice, the coriander leaves and stems, and the vermouth.
7. Blend the soup, ideally using a stick blender in the saucepan (it’s easier if you put the saucepan in the sink).
8. Season. Taste again.
9. Serve, drizzled with pomegranate molasses.