Rice Soup With Pumpkin Food

PUMPKIN RICE

Steps:

• Peel and deseed the pumpkin, then chop into 2cm chunks.
• Pour 800ml of boiling salted water into a large pan over a medium-high heat, add the coconut cream and leave to melt, then add the pumpkin and allspice berries.
• Trim the spring onions and bash with your fist, then halve and drop into the pan with half the thyme sprigs and the whole Scotch bonnets (no holes or bruises please).
• Roughly chop the cabbage, discarding the core, then add to the pan with ½ a teaspoon each of sea salt and black pepper. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, then rinse and stir in the rice.
• Pop the lid back on, turn the heat down to low and cook for 12 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Turn the heat off and leave to steam.
• Meanwhile, peel and finely slice the garlic and peel and roughly chop the onion, then place in a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil and cook for 5 minutes.
• Halve the tomatoes, then remove the chillies from the rice, carefully deseed, slice, and add half to the pan (feel free to add more later, to taste, and remember to clean your knife, board and hands thoroughly after).
• Pick in the remaining thyme leaves, then trim and halve the okra and add to the pan. Cover and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, then tip in the beans (juices and all) to warm through for a few minutes.
• Fork up the rice, breaking up the pumpkin, and serve with the beans, seasoning everything to perfection.

FROM THE PANTRY: CURRIED PUMPKIN AND WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the rice, and simmer until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Strain and let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoons of the raisins and 1 tablespoon of the vinegar in a small bowl. Let sit at room temperature until ready to serve.
• Pulse 1/4 cup of the nuts, the remaining 3 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoons raisins, 2 tablespoons water, tomato paste, curry powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a food processor until a coarse paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the coarse paste, and cook, stirring frequently, until the oil begins to separate and the paste is brick red, 6 to 8 minutes. Add splashes of water if the paste sticks to the bottom of the pan at all. Add the chicken broth, pumpkin puree and 1 cup water, and whisk until blended. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally, and continue simmering until the soup has reduced and is slightly thicker than heavy cream, 30 to 40 minutes. Season with salt, and stir in about 3/4 of the cooked wild rice.
• Divide the hot soup among 4 soup bowls. Top each with some of the remaining rice and 1/4 cup cashews, vinegar-soaked raisins and pepper flakes.

PUMPKIN AND RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Cook onion and garlic in oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat until onion is tender.
• Stir in broth, pumpkin, coriander, pepper flakes and nutmeg.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, simmer uncovered 5 to 10 minutes.
• Top each serving with 1/2 cup rice.

PUMPKIN RICE LAKSA SOUP

Steps:

• Reserve cilantro leaves for garnish. Place cilantro stems in a food processor and add chile peppers, lime zest, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, five-spice powder, and cumin. Blend to a pulp; remove and discard any stringy bits and transfer mixture to a high-sided skillet. Add olive oil and white onion. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until fragrant, about 10 minutes.
• Add pumpkin and broth to the skillet. Stir around, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until pumpkin is soft, about 15 minutes. Add rice and stir well so that pumpkin gets mashed up a bit. Cover and simmer until rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Add coconut milk and season with salt and pepper. Stir in lime juice to taste. Garnish with reserved cilantro leaves, green chile pepper, and grated coconut.

PUMPKIN WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Sauté the onion in the butter in a large saucepan for 5 minutes; stir in the broth and pumpkin, heat, stirring occasionally, over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
• Stir in the wild rice and pepper; continue to heat for another 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cream and heat through; do not boil.
• Garnish with chives or parsley and serve.

PUMPKIN AND RICE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion, shallot, and serrano and a couple big pinches of salt. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes, then add the pumpkin and 6 cups of water (or less if you like a thicker soup), I make this one on the slightly thin side.
• Bring just to a simmer and cook until squash is completely tender throughout, about 15 minutes. Note that the time it takes will differ between different squash/pumpkin varietals. Remove from heat and puree with a hand blender until smooth, and add the ginger juice. If you like an even thinner soup, add a bit more water at this point, then stir in more salt to taste, about 2 teaspoons.
• Serve over a big scoop of brown rice with lots of toasted pumpkin seeds (or pepitas), a dollop of yogurt, a drizzle of lemon ginger rosemary butter (and pulp).

PUMPKIN AND RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Cook the rice according to package directions; fluff and set aside.
• Meanwhile, pulse the tomato paste, vinegar, raisins, curry powder, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup of the peanuts and 2 tablespoons water in a food processor until a coarse paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the paste and cook, stirring frequently, until the oil begins to separate and the paste is brick red, 6 to 8 minutes. (Add a tablespoons or two of water if the paste sticks to the bottom of the pan at all.) Add the chicken broth, pumpkin puree and 2 cups water and whisk until blended. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally, and continue simmering until the soup has thickened slightly, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in about three-quarters of the cooked rice and adjust the seasoning with salt.
• Serve the soup topped equally with the remaining rice and 1/4 cup peanuts. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and the chives.

RICE SOUP WITH PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a 3- to 4-quart heavy pot and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until thickened and creamy, about 1 1/2 hours.