Somehow I suspect it won’t end the debate, but it is worth noting that a recently published study by Newcastle University – the biggest of its kind ever undertaken – has reached the very clear conclusion that organic foods are significantly healthier than their non-organic counterparts.
The international team which conducted the research not only found that organic foods contained up to 60% more key antioxidants than non-organic, but also far lower levels of toxic heavy metals.
This stark difference in food quality can be explained very simply by the way organic and non-organic food is produced.
Non-organic produce may be grown legally using a vast armoury of chemicals – in the form of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and artificial fertilizer. Often the soil on which it is grown is devoid of natural nutrients (because of the impact of prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals). In some intensive agricultural regions such as the Ica Valley in Peru and Murcia in Spain, the unsustainable resource requirements of non-organic farming means that farmers are running out of water and seeing their land slowly dying and turning to desert.
By contrast, in order to earn the label “organic”, a crop must have been produced without pesticides or other potentially harmful chemicals, and the farming practices used to grow it must encourage both soil and water conservation and reduce pollution.
Over time, organic farming both enriches and increases the quantity and quality of the soil. Intensive agriculture eventually destroys it.
The tide is turning, but is it turning quickly enough? Thanks to consumer pressure and sustained pressure group influence, nearly all supermarkets today include organic produce in their shopping aisles, and the amount of agricultural land devoted to organic farming is increasing year on year.
As consumers we must continue to drive change. Yes, organic does cost more, but that is only because the true and terrible environmental cost of intensive farming is not factored into the price of the inferior foodstuffs it produces.
On to the recipe.
I’ve used some “Sanguina” beetroot from my allotment plot, the Circus Garden, to create this hearty soup, which is given a bit of added punch by the addition of home-grown horseradish.
The horseradish plant can be quite a prolific grower if it is not kept in check, and it is quite a tricky business pulling up the roots. If, as often happens, part of the root breaks off in the process, then a new plant will eventually grow from the root left behind.
Almost prehistoric in appearance, the long tapering root of horseradish has a rather musty fragrance before it is grated, a process which releases its sharp, hot, pungent aroma, a great match for rich, sweet, earthy beetroot.
beetroot and horseradish soup with thyme and caraway croutons
Ingredients
500 g beetroot, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
10 g fresh horseradish, grated
1 litre vegetable stock
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
for the croutons
100 g day-old ciabatta or sourdough bread, cut into approx 1.5 cm cubes
40 ml extra virgin oil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp caraway seeds, crushed in a pestle and mortar
to garnish
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F, gas mark 2).
2. For the croutons, place the bread cubes, olive oil, thyme and caraway seeds in a bowl and gently toss together with your hands. Put the oiled bread cubes on a flat baking tray and place in the pre-heated oven for 10-15 minutes, until crisp and golden. Check periodically to ensure the croutons don’t burn.
2. For the soup, heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat and when the oil is hot add the onion. Cook, stirring every so often, until the onion has become soft and translucent. Add the salt, thyme, beetroot and horseradish. Stir to combine then add the stock.
3. Bring the contents of the pan to a simmer then reduce the heat to its lowest setting and cook for 20 minutes, or until the beetroot is cooked (use a sharp knife to check). Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
4. Use a blender to process the soup until smooth (you will need to do this in batches).
5. Return the soup to the pan and heat gently. Do not allow it to boil. Serve the soup sprinkled with a few caraway croutons, a little fresh parsley and some good quality crusty bread.
Categories: dairy free, gluten free, vegan
Tags: artificial fertiliser, fungicides, herbicides, organic, pesticides, supermarkets
30 replies ›
Trackbacks
- Let’s Not Overlook Beetroot Greens | The Botanical Baker
- Vegan Chews & Progressive News {10-17-14} | Farmers Market Vegan
- six seasonal hearty vegan soups | The Circus Gardener's Kitchen
- 15 Vegan Soup Recipes for Winter - Apollo & Luna
- Let's Not Overlook Beetroot Greens - The Botanical Kitchen
Perfect! We have beetroot and horseradish growing in the garden now 🙂 This is bookmarked for the weekend 🙂 As for organics, very interesting findings! However, call me paranoid, and I’m not sure exactly why, but there does seem to be some kind of agenda being pushed somewhere by the nebulous ‘them’ to discredit organics, so I wonder how well this report will be publicised? I recall that straw-man study that came out some time ago, widely publicised, that appeared to debunk organic crops as they found that organics had no more vitamins than non-organic crops. I say “straw man study”, as I’ve never seen any claims that organic crops actually have more vitamins than non-organics, and yet the findings were reported in every paper going!
Thanks for your comments. The weather here in the UK is set to become more Autumnal over the weekend, so a hearty soup is definitely called for. I wonder if the “straw man” study you refer to is the one published by Stanford University a couple of years back. That study, it transpires, was sponsored by a number of global food giants, including the ubiquitous Cargill (who have since donated several million dollars to Stanford for “food research” studies). These corporate sponsors are, of course, the very organisations that have most to fear from the growth of organic farming, as it would threaten their profits through falling sales of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and artificial fertilisers as well as non-organic foods.
Steve
Another good recipe, Steve. One point though. Potato appears in the method but not in the ingredients. Cheers, Malcolm.
Hi Malcolm. Thanks for spotting the extraneous potato! Now removed. 🙂
Steve
The caraway on the crouton is the perfect bitter kiss to the sweetness, and then the hot of the horseradish, you really are very good! 🙂
Thank you Annie x
Steve
I love your blog, the preamble is always as interesting as the recipe! Thank you for all the effort you put in.
Hi Linda
Thank you for your lovely comments. It’s great to get feedback, especially when it’s so positive!
Steve
Delicious looking recipe ….off to get more beetroot from the allotment! I don’t have fresh horseradish though. Any ideas?
Hi Ann
You could try stirring in one or two teaspoons of creamed horseradish to give the soup the same kick. If you lived near me I would gladly let you have some of my fresh horseradish, I have rather too much of it growing on my plot just now!
Steve
Thank you. I will try that 🙂
What a stunning soup! This looks great – will need to try.
Thank you 🙂
I’ve grown horseradish for the first time this year. Now I know what to make with it!
🙂
Wow beautiful !
Thank you Tabitha x
Steve
Looks gorgeous, beetroot and horseradish are such a tasty and healthy combination. Feels perfect for this time of year too. Love the look of it in your enamel ware too – I’ve just had some for my birthday & although it was meant for camping, I’m loving using it at home.
Thanks for your kind comments, Andrea. I think enamelware works so well with things like earthy, rustic soups.
Steve
Beetroot and horseradish – what an interesting combination. I can imagine it’s really good 🙂
Tried and tested 🙂
Oh my, that soup looks divine. Another great recipe!
Thank you 🙂
Now this is a pairing I have not made before and it reminds me that I must grow horseradish on the plot this year. What a vibrant colour that Sanguina beetroot gives the soup too. Beautiful
Thank you Urvashi 🙂