Pumpkin Soup

July 11, 2021

INGREDIENTS

1.5kg pumpkin 

1 onion

4 cloves garlic

2 tbs olive oil

5 sprigs thyme

dried sage leaves

2 cups chicken stock

salt & pepper

1 cup milk (optional)

cream and pepitas or parsley for garnish

crusty bread roll to serve with

METHOD

If you use more than 1.5kg pumpkin, increase all the ingredients in the same proportion. 

Preheat oven to 180C. Cut the pumpkin in half lengthwise and scoop seeds out. Place cut side up on a lined baking tray. Cut onion into wedges and place into the centre of the pumpkin halves with unpeeled garlic and thyme sprigs. Dust pumpkin with sage and drizzle oil over. Cover the whole lot with foil and bake for 70-80 minutes or until fork tender.

Pour milk into blender. Let the pumpkin cool a bit before proceeding. Use a large spoon to scoop out the pumpkin flesh from one pumpkin half and place into a blender or Thermomix with the onion. Squeeze the flesh out of the garlic and add to the blender. Pull thyme leaves of the stalk and add. (Divide the onion, garlic and thyme between the two pumpkin halves.)

Process until smooth. Adjust consistency to your taste with water, stock or milk. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into bowls. Repeat with remaining pumpkin.

Drizzle with cream. Add pepitas and serve with crusty bread & butter.  ENJOY!! 

VARIATIONS 

Curried Pumpkin Soup - stir in a pinch of curry powder before you blitz the pumpkin. Taste and add more if you like curry!

Thai red curry - start by sauteing 2 tbs red curry paste in 1/2 tbs oil over medium heat. Cook for 2 minutes until really fragrant, then proceed with recipe i.e. add liquids & pumpkin etc. Then instead of using milk, use coconut cream. Garnish with coriander.

Ginger - Add a tsp of crushed ginger before blitzing. Then add a tsp of maple syrup. Taste and adjust to your liking.

Lightly spiced - stir in 1/2 tsp each of cumin, coriander and smoked paprika.

Turmeric - Add 1/2 tsp each ground turmeric, coriander and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper.

TIP The recipe above is very basic. Along with the pumpkin you can add 2 large carrots, 1 large potato and 2 rashers of bacon. Add all these under the foil or wrap in foil. They'll be in the oven for 70-80 minutes so don't let them burn.     Be adventurous! 

Also in Recipes