Name: Funky pumpkin soup
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: knob of butter and a little olive oil; 1 onion, chopped; 4 clove garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger; 2 tablespoon mild curry paste; 4 rashers bacon, rind removed and chopped; 1/2 cup buttercup pumpkin pieces, peeled and seeded; cup chicken stock or 4 cups of stock and 1 water; light seasoning of salt and freshly ground black pepper; coconut cream to garnish; fresh herbs such as coriander or thyme for garnish

Funky pumpkin soup

This is a simple traditional pumpkin soup recipe without any milk or cream, except for a garnish and that is optional. You can remove the curry and ginger if you prefer plain flavours

Makes 1 litre

Cook

45M

Ingredients

knob of butter and a little olive oil

1 onion, chopped

4 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

2 tablespoon mild curry paste

4 rashers bacon, rind removed and chopped

1/2 cup buttercup pumpkin pieces, peeled and seeded

cup chicken stock or 4 cups of stock and 1 water

light seasoning of salt and freshly ground black pepper

coconut cream to garnish

fresh herbs such as coriander or thyme for garnish

Method

1.Place the butter and oil in a large stockpot. Add onion, garlic and ginger and cook until softened on a gentle heat. Add curry paste and when fragrant (allow just 30–60 seconds) add chopped bacon and pumpkin pieces.

2.Constantly turn the pumpkin in the paste/bacon mixture to avoid catching – this is an important stage for flavour enhancement. Add the stock or stock and water and cook until the pumpkin has softened, and then process with the Kenwood Triblade Hand Blender. Season and garnish with coconut cream and fresh herbs.

Pumpkin soup bites: Better made a day ahead of serving. Serve with a basket of bread. The reason for the combination of butter and oil at the beginning of the soup is that butter gives great flavour – but oil increases the ‘flash point’; in other words behave better when heated! Remember the soup will only be as good as the stock. – After making the soup, if the pumpkin flavour needs extra vibrancy, add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice to the pot – lifts the whole soup up on flavour.

Note