Creamy Spiced Carrot Soup

Steps

• 1

  In 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and celery to oil; cook a few minutes. Add garlic; cook about 5 minutes or until vegetables are translucent. Add carrots; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender. Add chicken broth, bay leaf, orange peel strips, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and pepper. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in whipping cream; remove from heat.
• 2

  Meanwhile, make gremolata. In 8-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add bread crumbs to butter; cook until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Stir in parsley and grated orange peel. Remove from heat; set aside.
• 3

  Remove bay leaf and orange peel strips from soup; discard. Pour soup into blender in small batches; cover and puree each batch until completely smooth. Ladle into warm bowls. Sprinkle soup with 1 teaspoon gremolata. Pass the remaining gremolata at the table.