Ninja Blender and Soup Maker
“We’re reviewing the Ninja Blender & Soup Maker!”
“But why do we need it?”
I asked this same question when we got our stand mixer. After all, it’s just as simple to mix the ingredients and knead them by hand. But, as Luke reminded me, once I used the stand mixer for bread, I never looked back. So I agreed to try the Ninja Blender & Soup Maker – just one time you understand – and write the review.
First of all, this is a really premium product. Not “will cost you a fortune” premium, but “made of sturdy, quality materials” premium. Getting it out of the box, I asked Luke how much this gadget costs. I was thinking upwards of £200, maybe even £250, so when he told me £149.99 I was shocked. At the time of writing, you can actually pick it up on ninjakitchen.eu for £99.99, which is just amazing.
Why is it so amazing? Because this is a product which you will use. It’s addictive. I started out simple with a smooth sweet potato and butternut squash soup. We used a few spices to give it a curried flavour and ended up with the most amazing, hearty soup which is perfect for a cold Sunday afternoon in winter.
Easy-to-use
It’s easy to use. You start with chopped onion – no need for a perfectly even dice – a tablespoon of butter, and the herbs and spices you fancy, and hit the sauté button. Five minutes later, you have a perfect soup base of softened onions and gorgeous smelling aromats. Next, load up your ingredients, including the stock, and choose between smooth or chunky soup. Walk away for 30 minutes, then when you hear the final beeps run into the kitchen with a spoon in hand.
Not satisfied with making a fantastic soup gadget, Ninja kept on developing their blender and it will also make blended frozen drinks (hello strawberry daiquiris!), smoothies (hello post-Christmas fad diets), and creamy milkshakes (goodbye post-Christmas fad diets!). If that wasn’t enough features, you can also make jams and sauces using the heated function, or chop and saute ingredients – perfect for making a curry paste.
The blender is attractive and doesn’t take up too much counter space despite my relatively small kitchen. The premium-quality, heat-resistant glass jug has a fantastic capacity (we made almost a litre of soup on our first try) and features a splash-free lid, built-in measuring cup, and a safety lock that stops the blade if opened. Add a non-stick coating for easy clean-up, made even easier when you use the built-in cleaning programme.
Recipe: Sweet potato and butternut squash spiced soup (Ninja Blender & Soup Maker)
- 300g sweet potato, diced
- 300g butternut squash, diced
- 100g carrot, sliced
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 2 or 3 strands saffron
- 1 tbsp butter
- 750ml vegetable stock
- Roughly chop the onion and add it to the Ninja blender with the butter and spices
- Press the sauté button (approximately 5 minutes)
- Add the sweet potato, carrot, and squash. Pour in the stock.
- Press the smooth soup button
- Sit down and do something fun for 30 minutes
- Taste your soup and add salt and cracked black pepper to your liking
- Serve in a big bowl with a hunk of granary bread.
For me, the main attraction of this blender from Ninja is the speed and ease of making a filling meal. So often when we’re in the office, we end up buying expensive lunches because we’re just too lazy to think ahead and make a pasta salad or sandwiches I actually want to eat. So, several times in the last couple of weeks, I’ve chucked all the ingredients into the blender and left it to make my lunch for me while I shower and get ready. Then the soup goes into a Thermos and stays hot till I’m ready for it.
I can’t rate this more than 10/10 but I wish I could because I can’t find fault with it – and I’ve tried, for the sake of balance. If you’re looking for ways to eat healthier, especially if you work hectic shifts, while also having the flexibility to make cold drinks during hotter weather, this will be the blender for you.
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