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Creamy vegan kohlrabi and parsnip soup with roasted purple potatoes, rosemary and orange

9 JULY 2026

Kohlrabi and parsnip soup

By Verena Frei

This post is also available in: deutsch

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Last updated 9 July 2026

Hello lovelies, this creamy kohlrabi and parsnip soup is one of my favourite starters for a festive menu. Mild kohlrabi and slightly sweet parsnips, together with potatoes, make a wonderfully velvety, blended soup – and a hint of orange brings it all to life.

Creamy vegan kohlrabi and parsnip soup with roasted purple potatoes, rosemary and orange

The finishing touch is the topping of crispy roasted purple potatoes with rosemary and orange zest. It gives the creamy soup a lovely contrast and makes it a real eye-catcher too. My kids especially loved exactly this topping.

This soup is part of my vegan Christmas menu and belongs to Part 2 – Carrot soup with saffron, where I share two festive soups as a starter.

The complete Christmas menu (parts 1–4)

Here are all four courses of my vegan Christmas menu to cook:

Yours, Verena

TIPS

Verena's notes

Tip from my kitchen: blend the soup really smooth so it turns nice and velvety. The orange juice and zest add a fresh note – season carefully at the end so the orange only complements the mild kohlrabi and parsnip flavours. I always scatter the crispy roasted purple potatoes over the soup on the plate, so they stay lovely and crunchy.

Creamy vegan kohlrabi and parsnip soup with roasted purple potatoes, rosemary and orange

Kohlrabi and parsnip soup

Creamy vegan kohlrabi and parsnip soup with a hint of orange and crispy roasted purple potatoes – a lovely starter from the Christmas menu.

  • Course:Starter, Soup, Christmas
Vegan

INGREDIENTS

Soup:

  • 1onion
  • olive oil
  • 500gkohlrabi 17.6 oz.
  • 3-4kohlrabi leaves
  • 250gparsnip 8.8 oz.
  • 100gpotatoes 3.5 oz.
  • 50mlwhite wine
  • 1Tbsp bouillon
  • 1lwater
  • 120mlvegan cream e.g. oat
  • zest and juice of half an orange
  • nutmeg
  • salt
  • pepper

Topping:

  • 2purple potatoes
  • 2Tbsp olive oil
  • fresh rosemary
  • zest of half an orange
  • salt
  • pepper
  • garlic powder

INSTRUCTIONS

Soup

  1. Dice the onion and fry it in olive oil until glassy
  2. Peel the kohlrabi, parsnip and potatoes, dice them, add to the pan and sauté for about 3-5 minutes
  3. Roughly chop the kohlrabi leaves and add them (optional, they can also be left out)
  4. Deglaze with the white wine and let simmer for another 5 minutes
  5. Add the water and bouillon, cover and let simmer for about 25-30 minutes until the vegetables are soft
  6. Puree the soup, add the vegan cream, orange juice and zest, and season to taste with nutmeg, salt and pepper

Topping

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 C degree
  2. Dice the purple potatoes, chop the rosemary and mix with the remaining ingredients
  3. Spread on a lined baking tray and roast for about 20-30 minutes until crispy
  4. Add to the soup and serve with a little cream and extra orange zest
GOOD TO KNOW

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes, the soup is perfect for making ahead. You can cook it a day in advance, chill it and gently reheat it before serving. The roasted purple potatoes are best prepared fresh so they stay crispy.

  • No, the kohlrabi leaves are optional. If you have nice fresh leaves they add a fine, slightly cabbage-like note to the soup. Without them the soup works just as well and turns out a little milder.

  • Yes, the blended soup freezes well in portions. Simply thaw it overnight and warm it gently. Add the topping fresh so it stays crispy.

  • If you cannot find purple potatoes, regular waxy potatoes work fine too. Alternatively, crispy croutons or roasted pumpkin seeds make a wonderful topping for the creamy soup.

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