In Kakariko Village, food is rooted in tradition and the changing seasons. Simple soups and stews are a natural part of daily life. Kakariko Village is known for two agricultural staples: fortified pumpkins and swift carrots, both deeply woven into Sheikah cooking. These ingredients form the foundation of several simple, comforting soups, including a traditional carrot stew made by simmering swift carrots in fresh milk and thickening the broth with Tabantha wheat flour. Hearty without being heavy, this belly-warming stew is a familiar sight on Kakariko tables during the cooler months of the year.
We will be keeping this stew fairly simple while speeding up the process of bringing out the natural sweetness of the carrots. Rather than stewing them for an extended time, the carrots are roasted before being added to the pot, enhancing their sweetness while cutting down on the overall simmer time. The roasted carrots and onions are gently cooked in vegetable broth with fresh thyme, then puréed and finished with milk to create a soft, creamy base. A small amount of soy sauce and nutmeg adds depth without overpowering the carrots, and the stew is thickened at the end with a beurre manié. The natural sweetness of the carrots shines through, balanced by the butter and milk, which lend a light creaminess. Refreshing and delicate, a bowl of this stew would feel right at home on a cool spring afternoon in Kakariko Village.
10-12 medium orange carrots, peeled and chopped
2-3 medium yellow carrots, peeled and chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
4 tbsp butter, divided
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
5–7 sprigs fresh thyme
1½ cups whole milk
½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp soy sauce
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
1-2 tbsp chives, minced
¼ cup sour cream
8-10 roasted carrot tops with greens (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°F, and place the butter in the counter to soften.
Once the carrots are roasted, remove them from the oven, and reserve all of the yellow carrots and an equal portion of the orange carrots for garnish (about 24 pieces each of the orange and yellow carrots). The remaining roasted orange carrots will be used for the stew base.
Set a Dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat and melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened and translucent.
Add the remaining roasted orange carrots to the pot, followed by the vegetable broth, thyme sprigs, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring the stew to a gentle simmer. Allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes to let the flavors meld, then remove and discard the thyme sprigs.
Remove the pot from the heat and use an immersion blender to purée the stew until completely smooth. If using a blender, purée the soup in batches and return it to the pot.
While the soup warms, prepare the beurre manié. In a small bowl, mash together the remaining 2 tablespoons of softened butter with 1 tablespoon of flour until fully combined into a smooth paste. Add the beurre manié to the stew and stir until it melts completely into the soup. Allow the stew to simmer for 5–7 minutes, until lightly thickened. Season with additional salt to taste, if needed.
If using carrot tops for garnish, brush the peeled carrot tops, with greens attached, lightly with oil and season with salt. Wrap pieces of aluminum foil around the greens to prevent them from burning. Roast them at 425°F for 15–20 minutes, until tender.
Mix the sour cream with a tablespoon of water for garnishing the carrot stew.
To serve, ladle the stew into bowls and garnish with the roasted carrot chunks, placing four orange and four yellow in an alternating circular pattern around the bowl. Add one or two carrot tops to the back left edge of the soup. Add a few small streaks of the sour cream to the center of the bowl in a circular pattern, and use a toothpick to trace through the streaks to create the swirled look. Sprinkle minced chives in the center, and yours bowls are ready. Enjoy!
Learn more about the Carrot Stew dish from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at Zelda Dungeon.