Cream of winter rutabaga soup with cinnamon

• 2 Tbsps butter
• 1 onion, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 1 1/4 pounds rutabaga
• 4 Tbsps light cream
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• caramelized onion rings to garnish (optional)

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, put in the onion, cover and cook with the cinnamon stick for 10 minutes. Peel the rutabaga and cut it into small dice, then add these to the pan. Stir, cover and cook gently for a further 5 minutes. Add 6 cups of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rutabaga is very tender. Remove the cinnamon stick, whizz the soup to a smooth puree in a food processor, then pour it through a strainer back into the saucepan. Stir in the cream and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with caramelized onion rings which are made by frying onion rings in a little olive oil or olive oil and butter for 10-15 minutes, 4ntil they are brown and crisp. Drain them on paper towels and float a few on top of each bowlful of soup. Serves 4.

Recipe from Vegetarian Four Seasons.