Creamy Pumpkin And Bacon Soup Food

PUMPKIN & BACON SOUP

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed pan, heat the oil with 25g butter. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook on a low heat for 10 mins or until soft. Add 60g bacon and cook for a further 5 mins until the bacon releases its fat. Then increase the heat to medium, add the pumpkin and stock and season. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for about 40 mins until the pumpkin is soft. Pour in the cream, bring to the boil again and remove from the heat. Set aside some of the liquid, then blend the remaining pumpkin until smooth and velvety, adding liquid back into the pan bit by bit as you go (add more liquid if you like it thinner). Strain through a fine sieve, check the seasoning and set aside.
• Melt the remaining butter in a pan over a high heat and fry the rest of the bacon with black pepper for 5 mins. Divide the bacon between four bowls, reheat the soup and pour over. To serve, sprinkle over the pumpkin seeds and drizzle with maple syrup.

CURRIED PUMPKIN, KUMERA AND BACON SOUP

Steps:

• Peel the pumpkin, remove the seeds and cut into 5cm/2" cubes. Cut bacon into short strips.
• Brown bacon over moderate heat in a large soup pot adding some of the butter if the bacon looks like sticking. Remove half the bacon and set aside to use as a garnish. Add the remaining buter, onions, garlic and curry powder and cook till the onion is lightly browned and transluscent. Add the pumpkin, kumera and water. Cover the put and cook till the pumpkin and kumera are tender.
• Puree soup in a food processor or blender, or mash the vegies. Thin with a bit of water, milk or cream if needed and season to taste.
• Serve, topped with the reserved bacon.

CREAMY PUMPKIN & LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Fry the onions until softened and starting to turn golden. Stir in the garlic, pumpkin flesh, lentils and thyme, then pour in the hot stock. Season, cover and simmer for 20-25 mins until the lentils and vegetables are tender.
• Meanwhile, wash the pumpkin seeds. Remove any flesh still clinging to them, then dry them with kitchen paper. Heat the 1 tsp oil in a non-stick pan and fry the seeds until they start to jump and pop. Stir frequently, but cover the pan in between to keep them in it. When the seeds look nutty and toasted, add a sprinkling of salt and a pinch of sugar, and stir well.
• Whizz the cooked pumpkin mixture with a hand blender or in a food processor until smooth, then add the crème fraîche and whizz again. Taste for seasoning.
• Serve with a spoonful of crème fraîche, a few thyme leaves and the toasted seeds scattered on top.