Spicy Pumpkin Soup Thai Style Recipes

SPICY PUMPKIN SOUP THAI STYLE

Steps:

• Slice the lemongrass into 1 inch lengths and slice or chop up everything else
• Feel free to add vegetables from the fridge which are likely to go in the bin. Just chop off then ends, cut out any nasty bits and chop or slice it up and add it to the mix. Don't add vegetables with a lot of carbohydrates such as potatoes or similar root crops - they will turn the stock cloudy.
• I recommend not adding salt or other seasonings though if you do please season very conservatively. Then the stock can be used in any dish which is seasoned later.
• Top up with water level with the top of the vegetables and bring to the boil.
• Simmer for 45 minutes with the lid on the saucepan to reduce evaporation.
• Strain the stock from the vegetables and store in 2 cup freezer bags for up to 3 months in the freezer or use immediately. Storing in smaller bags is much more convenient both from the storage and use point of view.!
• Cut your pumpkin into manageable sized segments and scoop out the stringy central part containing the seeds.
• Cut away the hard outer skin with a knife or a vegetable peeler and cut into pieces about 1 inch or so thick.
• Take a large bowl and part fill with water. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sea salt into the water and drop in the pumpkin pieces while continuing with the recipe.
• Place the cumin and coriander seeds and black peppercorns into a mortar and grind with a pestle to release the aromas. You can also use a spice mill or electric spice grinder but it is not quite the same.
• Heat your soup pot and roast the ground spices without oil in the dry pan for about 1 minute - until you can start to smell the aroma. Remove from the pot and set aside for a minute.
• Slice or chop the onions. Heat the oil in the bottom of your soup pot and cook until they turn slightly translucent. Add the brown sugar and caramelize. Set aside for a minute.
• Crush the garlic or slice and cook in a little oil for about 1 minute and then add in the red curry paste and stir. Add in a little coconut cream to form a paste.
• Continue to add the coconut cream to thin the paste into a sauce-like consistency, until you have added about half the coconut cream.
• Add back in the caramelized onions and the spices you toasted earlier.
• Add in the vegetable stock, the fish sauce and the honey and bring to a simmer.
• Simmer with the lid on for 30-45 minutes until the pumpkin is soft and yields easily when poked with a fork.
• Taste the soup. You will almost certainly need more salt to adjust. I prefer to add sea salt 1/2 teaspoon at a time about 1 minute apart to avoid over-salting. Stop adding salt a little before you think it is perfect because when blended the taste will change.
• Allow the soup to cool and then blend in small batches to a smooth consistency. If you blend the soup hot take extreme care. At the very least ensure you do not fill the blender more than half full, ensure to cover the entire top with a thick cloth or towel and start blending at the lowest speed and increasing gradually. This is important to avoid scalding which WILL happen if you overfill the blender and do not hold fast the cover safely.
• After blending taste the soup again adding more salt if necessary. If the soup is too spicy then you can temper this a little with more coconut cream which you can also use to make the sauce even more lovely and creamy.
• Pour into bowls and drizzle in coconut cream to make a pretty pattern, gently sprinkle roasted pumpkin seeds on top and finish off with a sprig of parsley.
• Cut up a few slices of fresh bread and butter and enter pumpkin heaven!

THAI PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat oil and butter over low heat. Cook garlic, shallots, chilies, and lemongrass in oil until fragrant (be careful not to burn the garlic). Stir in chicken stock, coconut milk, and pumpkin; bring to a boil. Cook until pumpkin softens.
• In a blender, blend the soup in batches to a smooth or slightly chunky consistency, whatever you prefer. Serve with basil leaves.

THAI PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the pumpkin or squash in a roasting tin with half the oil and seasoning, then roast for 30 mins until golden and tender.
• Meanwhile, put the remaining oil in a pan with the onion, ginger and lemongrass. Gently cook for 8-10 mins until softened. Stir in the curry paste for 1 min, followed by the roasted pumpkin, all but 3 tbsp of the coconut milk and the stock. Bring to a simmer, cook for 5 mins, then fish out the lemongrass. Cool for a few mins, then whizz until smooth with a hand blender, or in a large blender in batches. Return to the pan to heat through, seasoning with salt, pepper, lime juice and sugar, if it needs it. Serve drizzled with the remaining coconut milk and scattered with chilli, if you like.

SPICY THAI CANNED PUMPKIN SOUP WITH COCONUT CREAM

Steps:

• Place curry paste in a stockpot over medium heat and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in chicken stock and pumpkin; cook until soup starts to bubble, about 3 minutes. Add cream of coconut; cook for 3 minutes. Add jalapeno pepper and Anaheim chile pepper; cook until hot, about 3 minutes. Season with salt.

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.