Prep your vegetables. Peel and chop the carrots into even pieces.
Dice the onion, mince the garlic, grate the ginger, and peel and dice the potato.
Sauté the aromatics. In a large pot, warm the olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook 4–5 minutes, until soft. Stir in the garlic and ginger; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
Add spices (if using). Sprinkle in cumin and turmeric.
Stir for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
Add the vegetables and broth. Add carrots and potato. Pour in the broth and stir. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Simmer until tender. Cook 18–25 minutes, or until the carrots and potato are very soft and easily pierced with a fork.
Blend until smooth. Use an immersion blender directly in the pot to blend to your preferred texture.
For an ultra-smooth soup, transfer in batches to a countertop blender. Be careful with hot liquids—vent the lid and blend in small amounts.
Adjust thickness. If it’s too thick, add a splash of broth or water. If it’s too thin, let it simmer a bit longer to reduce.
Finish and season. Stir in cream, coconut milk, or yogurt if desired. Add lemon juice, then taste and season with salt and pepper until it pops.
Serve and garnish. Ladle into bowls.
Top with a drizzle of olive oil, a spoonful of yogurt, chopped herbs, and toasted seeds or croutons for texture.