Spicy Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• Pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)
• 3 (15 oz.) cans pumpkin or 6 cups chopped roasted pumpkin*
• 5 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

* To make pumpkin puree, cut a sugar pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff, and lie face down on a tin foil-lined baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees until soft, about 45 minutes to an hour. Cool, scoop out flesh. Freeze whatever you don’t use for future use.

Directions: 

Melt butter in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add spices and stir for a minute more.

Add pumpkin and 5 cups chicken broth; blend well. Bring to a boil and reduce heat, then simmer for 10-15 minutes. Transfer soup in batches to a blender or food processor. Cover tightly and blend until smooth. Return soup to saucepan.

With the soup on low heat, add brown sugar and mix. Slowly add milk while stirring to incorporate. Add cream. Adjust seasonings to taste. If a little too spicy, add more cream to cool it down. You might want to add a teaspoon of salt.

• Category: Recipes, Soups