Pumpkin Cumin And Chilli Soup Food

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.

PUMPKIN, CUMIN AND CHILLI SOUP

Steps:

• Slice the top off the pumpkin and set it aside.
• Later it will be the lid for your pumpkin-pot serving bowl.
• Use your hands to pull out all the strings and seeds in the centre of the pumpkin.
• You can, if you like, save the seeds for roasting.
• Now use a spoon to scoop out as much of the flesh as you can, but be careful not to break through the shell of the pumpkin.
• Remember, you want to use it as a bowl afterwards.
• Roughly chop the pumpkin flesh and then heat the oil or butter in a big pot.
• Throw in the cumin seeds and onion, frying and stirring occasionally until the onion becomes translucent.
• Add the chilli and sugar and stir well, then throw in the hot stock and pumpkin flesh.
• Simmer until the pumpkin is soft enough to purée.
• Add salt to taste and then blitz until smooth.
• Add the cream, if desired, and pour into the pumpkin shell.
• Make patterns on the surface by drizzling over the oil.
• Serve immediately.