Five Spice Pumpkin Soup Food

PUMPKIN SOUP - CLASSIC AND EASY

Steps:

• Cut the pumpkin into 3cm / 2.25" slices. Cut the skin off and scrape seeds out (video is helpful). Cut into 4cm / 1.5" chunks.
• Place the pumpkin, onion, garlic, broth and water in a pot - liquid won't quite cover all the pumpkin. Bring to a boil, uncovered, then reduce heat and let simmer rapidly until pumpkin is tender (check with butter knife) - about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and use a stick blender to blend until smooth (Note 3 for blender).
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, stir through cream (never boil soup after adding soup, cream will split).
• Ladle soup into bowls, drizzle over a bit of cream, sprinkle with pepper and parsley if desired. Serve with crusty bread!

VERY SIMPLE PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Bring first 4 ingredients to simmer in large saucepan over medium-high heat, whisking often. Whisk in syrup, 2 tablespoons butter, and five-spice powder. Simmer soup 10 minutes, whisking often. Season with salt and pepper. (Soup can be made 1 day ahead. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Bring to simmer before serving.) Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Divide soup among 6 bowls. Sprinkle soup with mushrooms, dividing equally; serve.
• A blend of ground anise, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and ginger available in the spice section of most supermarkets.

SPICY PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds with a spoon (see tip below). Cut into wedges or chunks (keep the skin on) and tip into a bowl. Put the garam masala, and 1 tsp each of the coriander and cumin into a small bowl and mix with 2 tbsp of the oil and season. Drizzle over the pumpkin and toss well to coat in the spiced oil. Transfer to a baking tray, spread out evenly and roast for 40-45 mins, turning halfway through cooking, until the pumpkin is very soft when pierced with a fork. Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes.
• Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion with a pinch of salt for 10 mins until soft. Add the ginger, garlic and remaining spices and chilli flakes, and fry for a few more minutes until fragrant. Pour in the stock and bring to a gentle simmer.
• When the pumpkin is cool enough to touch, use a spoon to scoop the soft flesh from the skins. Add the soft pumpkin to the stock pan, discarding the skins. Remove from the heat and blitz the soup with a hand blender until creamy and smooth. Season to taste, adding extra chilli or garam masala if you like. Put back over a low heat and stir in the cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, then serve in bowls with a drizzle more cream and a pinch of chilli to serve. Top with toasted pumpkin seeds, if you like.

SPICED PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pan, heat the oil with ½ tsp salt and some pepper. Add the leeks and potatoes, cook for 5 mins over a medium heat, stirring constantly, then add the garlic and squash. Continue to cook for 10 mins to give everything a bit of colour.
• Add the coconut milk and 1 litre water, or enough to cover the mixture. Place the lemongrass on a board and crush with the flat end of a cleaver or knife, then add to the soup, turn the heat up and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 20 mins until the squash is mushy. Remove the lemongrass.
• Blend until smooth (the soup should be nice and thick, but add a splash of water if it has become too thick). Return to the saucepan and put back onto the heat. Taste and season again, then serve with a bowl of snipped chives and one of Chilli shrimps (see below), allowing guests to help themselves.