Two Pumpkin Soup Recipes for Autumn: a Spiced Version and a Mild One
The Saturday supplement of Latvian newspaper Diena has published two pumpkin soup recipes: a vegetable-rich soup with ginger and spices, and a milder cream soup with caraway and bacon.
The recipe section of the Saturday supplement of the Latvian newspaper Diena has featured two pumpkin soup recipes for the pumpkin season. The author describes the first as a version that both adults and children enjoy, and says several people have asked for the recipe. The second is a milder cream soup without the sharpness of chili or ginger.
Soup with vegetables and spices
The first soup calls for 1.2–1.5 kg of pumpkin flesh, plus an onion, a leek, a tomato, a bell pepper and a small cauliflower, which can be frozen. The flavour comes from tomato paste, coriander seeds, cayenne pepper, paprika powder, a slice of lemon, half an orange and a thumb-sized piece of ginger. The author notes the soup can be adapted to taste, and individual spices can be left out or replaced.
The onions and leek are fried in oil and butter, then the tomato, the other vegetables and the spices are added. Hot water or stock is poured over, and the soup simmers covered on low heat for about 20 minutes, with the ginger added after 10 minutes. At the end the orange half is removed, its juice squeezed into the soup and the peel discarded, and the soup is blended. Cream or coconut milk can be added if desired. It is served with fresh herbs and crispy bread croutons.
Cream soup with caraway and bacon
The second recipe uses 550 g of Hokkaido pumpkin with its skin, a leek, two medium potatoes, thyme, a teaspoon of caraway seeds, two garlic cloves and hot vegetable or chicken stock. It also includes 2–3 tablespoons of processed cheese, salt, pepper and lemon juice.
The leek is fried first, then the pumpkin, potatoes, thyme, caraway and garlic are added. Stock is poured over and the soup cooks for 15 minutes. The thyme is then removed, the soup is blended, the processed cheese is stirred in until melted, and the seasoning is adjusted. It is served with fried bacon pieces and toasted pumpkin seeds. For a sharper taste, cayenne pepper or Sriracha sauce can be added.
