Spicy Pumpkin Soup Caribbean Style Food

SPICY COCONUT PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the pumpkin, stir well, and cook, covered, for 15 minutes.
• Add the onion, garlic, and ají dulce and stir well. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent, 3 to 5 minutes, then add the brown sugar and cumin. Mix well. Cook until the sugar melts, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in the coconut milk and broth. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the pumpkin is very soft, about 15 minutes.
• Using an immersion blender, blend the soup into a smooth purée. Alternatively, remove the solids with a slotted spoon and place in a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth and return to the pan.
• Bring back to a simmer and cook gently for 5 minutes so the flavors combine. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with the cilantro.

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.

SPICY PUMPKIN SOUP - CARIBBEAN STYLE

Steps:

• Boil split peas in a large pot of water with the garlic until soft, about 40 minutes.
• Boil pumpkin in a pot with just enough water to cover, about 3 cups. Add adobo/ buillon or seasoning to pot, if using.
• Cook pumpkin until soft, about 20 minutes after it comes to a boil.
• Using a blender or by hand with a masher, puree pumpkin with the cooking water.
• Add an additional 2 cups of water.
• Add thyme and scotch bonnet and bring to a boil.
• Simmer for 10 minutes until the broth is smooth and homogenous.
• Add the smoked chicken and the cooked split peas.
• Add the potatoes and 1 cup of water.
• Simmer until the potato is cooked, about 15 minutes.
• Add parsley and salt as needed. Stir to combine.
• Remove the Scotch Bonnet pepper if you want to stop the spiciness at this point.
• If the soup has thickened too much with the addition of the potato, add a little more water until it is the perfect thickness for you.

SPICY WEST INDIAN PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add squash, onion, celery, pepper, and garlic; sauté for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until tender. Discard bay leaves.
• Place half of the squash mixture in a blender, and process slightly so that there are still chunks. Pour pureed mixture into a bowl; repeat procedure with remaining squash mixture. Return pureed mixture to pan; cook over medium heat 3 minutes or until heated.