Pumpkin CrÈme Soup With Shrimp Cream Cheese And Basil Food

PUMPKIN SOUP WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Prepare pumpkin cubes and set aside.
• Shell and devein shrimp and reserve both the shrimp and their shells. There should be about 1 1/2 cups of shelled shrimp.
• Put shells into a saucepan and add the water. Add salt to taste and bring to boil. Let simmer about 5 minutes. Strain, discarding shells. There should be about 1 3/4 cups of broth.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a kettle and add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring often without browning, about 5 minutes. Add pumpkin cubes, shrimp broth and chicken broth and cook 20 minutes. Put the mixture through a food mill. You might use a food processsor or electric blender, but the puree will be a bit fibrous. There should be about 10 cups.
• Return the soup to the kettle and add milk and cream. Simmer 5 minutes. Add shrimp, salt and pepper to taste and simmer 1 minute. Stir in coriander and serve hot.

PUMPKIN AND SHRIMP BISQUE

Steps:

• 1. Shrimp stock: Peel and devein shrimp, reserving the shells. Cover the shrimp and refrigerate. Heat the olive oil in a medium (3-quart) heavy-bottomed saucepan over high heat until it begins to smoke. Add the shrimp shells to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until they turn deep orange and are just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. This step-pan roasting the shells-gives the stock much of its flavor, so take the time to do it carefully. The roasted shells should release a concentrated, toasty, shrimp aroma that will fill your kitchen. Add the wine to the pan, first turning off gas flames to prevent the alcohol from igniting, then boil it over medium heat until all the liquid is evaporated. Add the chicken stock, saffron, celery, onion, bay leaves, and sage. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Partially cover the pan and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Strain the stock through a fine sieve, pushing down on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract all the liquid. Rinse out the saucepan and pour the stock back into it.
• 2. Soup: Whisk the pumpkin, cream, salt (omit if using canned stock), and cayenne into the shrimp stock. Bring the soup to a simmer, then cook very gently uncovered over low heat for 10 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, taste, and season with black pepper and more salt if needed. (The soup can be made up to this point up to 1 day ahead store covered in the refrigerator. Keep the peeled shrimp in a resealable bag buried in a bowl of ice in the refrigerator.)
• 3. Finishing the soup: Pour the olive oil into a large sauté pan placed over medium heat. When hot, add the reserved shrimp and sage and cook, tossing often, until the shrimp is just cooked through, pink, and no longer translucent, but not curled into a circle, 2 to 3 minutes. They should still have a tender snap when you bite into them. Arrange the shrimp in warmed serving bowls or a tureen. Bring the soup back to a simmer and then ladle it over the shrimp. Serve right away.
• Variation
• Substitute winter squash purée, such as butternut or acorn, for the pumpkin.

CREAM OF PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). To make the croutons, combine softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Spread butter mixture evenly over one side of each bread slice. Place bread, buttered side up, on a baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until bread is crisp and topping is bubbly. Cut each slice of bread into 8 small triangles or squares.
• Saute onion in butter in a medium saucepan until tender. Add 1 can chicken broth; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.
• Transfer broth mixture into the container of a blender or processor. Process until smooth.
• Return mixture to saucepan. Add remaining can of broth, pumpkin, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground pepper; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in whipping cream and heat through. Do not boil. Ladle into individual soup bowls. Top each serving with Cinnamon Croutons.

SHRIMP AND CREAM CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy 5-quart soup pot, slowly melt the cream cheese and butter over low heat.
• Then add the green onions and gently simmer them for about 10-12 minutes.
• Next, stir in the potato soup and both cans of corn and continue the simmering process for an additional 15 minutes.
• Then begin stirring in the milk in order to reach the desired consistency--start off with a half of cup, then add more if you desire.
• At this point the soup should be nice and thick, having the texture of light pancake batter.
• Finally, just before you are ready to eat, fold in the shrimp, stir in the seafood seasoning, and heat pot to hot and bubbly.

PUMPKIN SOUP WITH CURRY AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat oil and sesame oil in a big cast iron pan.
• Add curry powder and garlic. Saute for a minute or so until curry is fragrant and garlic lightly browned. Add onions and squash/pumpkin and saute a little longer.
• Pour over enough hot water to cover veggies. Let simmer covered for about 30 minutes until squash/pumpkin is tender (This step might take longer depending on what type of squash/pumpkin you use).
• When everything is done, puree soup to desired consistency using a hand-held blender. You might need to add more water.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Just before serving add a tbs or so of the chopped basil to each bowl of soup.