Pumpkin With White Beans Bacon Food

PUMPKIN WITH WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Place beans in a medium saucepan and cover by about 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil; remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse.
• In a stockpot over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Add onion, garlic, serrano chile, and 1/4 tsp. kosher salt. Saute until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in hot or sweet paprika and tomato paste; cook for 1 minute. Add beans, chicken stock or water, and cilantro. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for about 35 minutes.
• Peel, seed, and cut half small sugar pumpkin. Add pumpkin to bean mixture, plus additional stock or water to cover, and simmer, partially covered, until tender, about 25 minutes more. Remove and discard cilantro. Serve immediately.

PUMPKIN (SQUASH), LEEK, BEAN AND BACON SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a dutch oven or large, deep saucepan that can hold all the ingredients.
• Lightly fry the chopped bacon. Remove and set aside. If the bacon has released a lot of fat, drain off as much as you wish.
• Reheat the remaining oil/bacon fat. Add sliced leek and onion and crushed garlic, and saute until tender.
• Add chopped pumpkin and saute for five minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add stock, beans, bacon, tarragon, thyme and chili flakes.
• Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, or until pumpkin is fork tender.
• Add 1/4 cup parsley.
• Zap the cooked mixture with a stab blender or buzz up in a food processor. Or crush with a potato masher. The choice depends on your consistency preferences.
• Stir in cream (if used), and season with salt and pepper to taste. Reheat gently.
• Ladle into bowls and garnish with sour cream and additional parsley or coriander (cilantro).

PUMPKIN WITH WHITE BEANS & BACON

Steps:

• Cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon; let cool, then break into pieces. Reserve the skillet.
• Add the pumpkin to the drippings in the skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the broth, oregano, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pumpkin is tender, 6 to 8 minutes more. Add the beans and vinegar and heat through, 2 minutes. Top with the bacon.