Sweet and Spicy Bacon Sweet Potato Soup

Instructions

1. Peel and slice sweet potatoes into 1 inch pieces. Chop onion and bacon. Peel and shred carrot. Grate the peel and juice the orange.
2. In a large soup pot, add the sweet potatoes and enough water to cover. Add half the salt and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, return sweet potatoes to the pot, and set aside.
3. While the potatoes are cooking, cook the bacon in a large pan over medium-high heat until crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, keeping the bacon fat in the pan.
4. Add the onion, carrot, chipotle pepper, and cinnamon; cook until the onions are softened.
5. Stir in the chicken stock, orange peel, and orange juice. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate any browned bits into the broth mixture.
6. Add the broth mixture to the sweet potatoes in the pot. Puree with an immersion blender (alternatively, puree in small batches in a blender or food processor).
7. Season with maple syrup, plus additional chipotle, salt, and pepper to your taste. Ladle into individual serving bowls, and crumble bacon slices atop and enjoy.