Pumpkin Soup

Recipe provided by Itsy Bitsy Foodies

Ingredients:
Pumpkin Tureens

• 4-8 small pumpkins
• 2-4 tsp sugar
• 2-4 tsp salt

Pumpkin Soup

• 1/2 cup chopped leek
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 4 cups pumpkin/squash purée
• 3-4 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 tsp salt
• Dash of black pepper
• 1 tsp curry powder, to taste
• Roasted pumpkin seeds for garnish

Directions:
Pumpkin Tureens
1) Slice the tops off of the pumpkins you would like to use as bowls. The size of the pumpkins will vary depending on whether you will be serving the soup as an appetizer or a main course.
2)Scoop out the flesh and seeds of the pumpkins.
3)Reserve the seeds to toast as a garnish or as a snack.
4) Sprinkle 1/2 tsp salt and sugar on the inside flesh of each pumpkin.
5) Place the pumpkins and top lids flesh down on a baking sheet and bake them at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until tender. The cook time will vary depending on the size of the pumpkins. (You will not cook them as long as you would cook a pumpkin to eat because you want them to keep their shape as a bowl.)

Pumpkin Soup
1) Heat 1 Tbsp butter in a large pan over medium heat.
2) Add the chopped leek and cook it for 5-7 minutes or until soft and tender, but not browned.
3) Add the pumpkin/squash purée and 2 cups of chicken broth.
4) Simmer the mixture for 20 minutes.
5) Then purée it in a blender until smooth.
6) Return the pumpkin/squash mixture to the pan.
7) Add 1 cup chicken broth, salt, black pepper and curry powder (if desired).
8) Add additional chicken broth if you want a thinner soup.
9) Heat the soup through and serve it in warmed bowls or pumpkin tureens.
10) Garnish the soup with roasted pumpkin seeds, croutons or chopped cilantro.

TIP: The soup will thicken as it cools so you may need to add more chicken broth to thin the soup if you make the soup in advance or eat leftovers the following day.