Limor's Sweet Potato Chestnut Soup: A Cozy Israeli Recipe

a.k.a ORANGE SOUP

This perfect winter soup recipe is part of a series I’ll be sharing each month: Israeli Recipes in Translation.

Israeli Recipes in Translation is a monthly series that brings authentic Israeli recipes—often shared only in Hebrew—into English. Each recipe is selected and translated to help bridge the gap between Israeli home kitchens and readers in the diaspora. Alongside each dish, I’ll share its cultural v, seasonal significance, or the personal story behind it. This is my way of staying connected to Israel—and inviting you to do the same, one recipe at a time.

By translating and sharing these recipes, I hope to bridge the gap—so we can all join the conversation, celebrate Israeli food culture, and bring these flavors into our own kitchens.

Each recipe will be introduced with a bit of background—what season or holiday the dish is typically eaten during, which ethnic group or groups make the dish, and sometimes, as in this case, a personal story about how the recipe came to be served at the author’s table.

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Sweet Potato Chestnut Soup

What makes this orange soup special is the addition of chestnuts. Yes, chestnuts are actually grown in Israel, though they are not, of course, native to the land. Perhaps the most ‘Israeli’ thing about them is the very special chestnut tree that was planted in Jerusalem in 2012 using a sapling from the original chestnut tree that Anne Frank wrote about frequently in her diary. One such entry, dated May 13, 1944, reads, “Our chestnut tree is in full bloom. It’s covered with leaves and is even more beautiful than last year”. This original tree was one of the few glimpses of nature that Anne could see from her hiding place, and it became a symbol for her of hope and beauty.

This recipe comes from the website, A Local Kitchen, by Limor Laniado-Tiroche. She introduces her website like this:

“This is how I keep my loved ones close, in the kitchen. Using the simplest of things–colors, smells, and flavors–I show them how important they are to me and how much I love them.

Cooking to me is a kind of conversation, communication, joy, silence. I see the kitchen as an infinite arena of creation, a place where people enjoy themselves together, and share experiences. I love the fruits and vegetables that each season brings, the outdoor market, the local spices. I cook with meticulous simplicity and with unexpected combinations. I love to surprise friends, students, and even myself.

My curiosity and love for the world of flavors brought me to the leading schools in the world of cooking– in London, Zurich, and Paris– and this, combined with my love and curiosity for local cuisines and the authentic food of peoples and cultures, together create my perception of local Israeli cuisine.”

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We’ve chosen this soup as it is popular in Israel during its cold, rainy winter days.

6-8 servings

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 onions, chopped

• 4 celery stalks, chopped

• 4 garlic cloves, peeled

• A bunch of thyme tied with string

• 2-3 large sweet potatoes (approximately 2 pounds), peeled and cut into large cubes

• 200 grams raw, whole chestnuts

• 1 ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon pepper

• 1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds

• A pinch of nutmeg

• A pinch of cinnamon

• 7-8 cups water

• walnuts or pecans toasted, for garnish

• Sour cream, for garnish

Instructions:

Sauté the chopped onions and celery stalks in olive oil for five to six minutes.

Add the thyme and garlic and continue sautéing for an additional minute.

Add the sweet potatoes, chestnuts and spices, and steam for ten minutes.

Add the water, bring to a boil, and cook for thirty minutes, covered, at a gentle simmer.

Remove the thyme sprig, and allow to cool till the soup is no longer too hot to the touch.

Puree well.

Reheat and serve with chopped toasted pecans and a dollop of sour cream.

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This is a perfect winter soup! Feel free to share this Israeli recipe with friends and family

As always, I’d love to hear any suggestions or feedback you have!

To our health and inspiration!

Kenden