creamy coconut pumpkin soup with toasted pepitas

Pumpkin is highly seasonal and usually immediately overused once October hits.  I am a huge fan of pumpkin myself, but usually just end up roasting it with sea salt and red pepper flakes.  Although the craze of pumpkin is natural, I just think there are some recipes it doesn't need to be involved in, like hummus - for example.  Either way, I did my part in perpetuating the craze by creating these two recipes (one for Rue Magazine & one for Clementine Daily) showcasing two of my favorite ways to eat it.  Let's call it a pumpkin round-up?

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CREAMY COCONUT & PUMPKIN SOUP WITH TOASTED PEPITAS AND CREME FRAICHE (Gluten-free, optional vegan)

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 bunch spring onion OR 1 large sweet onion
  • 1 lb. or 3 heaping cups pumpkin, cubed
  • 1 lb. or 3 heaping cups celeriac, cubed
  • 32 fl. oz. vegetable broth
  • 10 thyme sprigs
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1 tablespoon sage, dried
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup raw pepitas
  • 1/2-3/4 cup coconut milk or cream
  • 1/4 cup greek yogurt (optional)
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Freshly ground pepper

In a large saucepan add olive oil, garlic and onion. Sautee over medium heat for 5-7 minutes.  Slowly pour in vegetable broth with cubed pumpkin and celeriac.

Bring mixture to a boil, then add thyme sprigs, celery seed and sage. Lower to a simmer and cover for 30-35 minutes or until pumpkin is tender.

While soup is cooking, add raw pumpkin seeds to a large skillet over low heat. Stir often until pepitas are toasted and smell nutty. Set aside to cool.

When soup is done cooking, remove thyme stalks (all leaves should have fallen off during cooking) and stir in maple syrup, coconut oil and coconut cream. Season with sea salt and pepper.

Use a hand immersion blender to puree soup until smooth (or your preference of texture). Serve soup warm topped with toasted pepitas and a drizzle of greek yogurt!

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PUMPKIN RISOTTO WITH SAGE, WHITE WINE & PECORINO (Gluten-free) SERVES 4

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 small onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 1 heaping cup pumpkin (kabocha squash), cubed
  • 1/2 cup white wine (pinot blanc or grigio)
  • 4 tablespoons fresh sage, minced
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
  • 32 oz. chicken broth
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Fresh ground pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup parmesan (plus more for topping)

Add olive oil, onion, garlic, and rice to a large saucepan or deep skillet.  Sauté over medium heat until rice becomes translucent.  Add pumpkin and sauté for 5-10 minutes or until just begins to soften.

Add white wine, sage, bay leaves, nutmeg and celery seed. Simmer mixture until and stir until rice begins to absorb liquid.  As soon as rice absorbs all liquid, add chicken brown, 1 cup at a time, stirring often.

Continue this process: adding liquid, stirring often until liquid absorbs, then add more broth.  Keep going until all broth is gone and rice is tender to the bite.  Stir in parmesan, sea salt, freshly ground pepper.  Serve immediately!

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SLOW-ROASTED TOMATO & KABOCHA SOUP WITH GARLIC CHIPS

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The season finally changed here in New York.  Just when you've had enough of one, the other begins and I could not be more ready for this time of year.  The minute it was under 70 degrees, I was making soups and skipping in the humidity-free streets.  My winter coats are easily accessible again and the air is crisp!  Can you tell how excited I am?

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Naturally, I made the most quintessential cold weather meal.  I am on my third kabocha squash of the month and I do not plan on stopping anytime soon.  So, as a tribute to my favorite season (which will probably be over by November 1st), I give you comfort food, autumn-style:

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SLOW-ROASTED VINE TOMATO & KABOCHA SOUP WITH PINE NUTS AND GARLIC CHIPS (Gluten-free)

Served with sharp cheddar grilled cheese with garlic and whole-grain mustard

Soup:

6-5 tomatoes, cored and diced

1 leek, chopped

8 garlic cloves, half minced and half whole

8 oz. tomato on the vine

3-4 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups kabocha squash, cubed

1.5-2 cups vegetable broth

3 tablespoons sundried tomato paste

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Pinch of parsley and thyme

Maldon sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

1. Add vine tomatoes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper with olive oil, whole garlic cloves and sea salt.  Cook for approximately 1 hour at 275 degrees.

2.  In the meantime, combine garlic, leek and onion with olive oil in a medium sauce pan.   Then, add the tomatoes.  Cook this mixture over medium heat until mixture begins to caramelize.

3.  Add vegetable broth.  Let the liquid come to temperature before adding kabocha, tomato paste and seasoning.  Let ingredients stew over medium heat for 20-35 minutes or until kabocha is tender.

4. After flavors are combined, use a hand blender to puree the soup.  Blend until mixture reaches your desired texture.  I pureed about half the soup and left the other half as is.

5.  Once vine tomatoes are finished roasting (and garlic is crispy), use them to garnish the soup.  Also top with pine nuts, more sea salt and fresh ground pepper.  This recipe serves 4 people.

Grilled cheese:

6 gluten-free bread slices (I used Udi’s Ancient Grains)

3-4 tablespoons butter

1 garlic clove, whole

2-3 tablespoons whole grain mustard

Cheddar cheese (amount depending on preference!)

1. Add butter to a skillet over medium heat.  Add bread slices and cook until charred.  Add more butter before flipping the slices.  Once charred, pub garlic clove over both sides of the bread.  Add a slab of cheddar cheese and mustard to form the sandwich.  Add to baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cook for 10-12 minutes at 300 degrees or until cheese is melted.  Repeat to make a total of 4 grilled cheese.  Be sure to serve and dip with soup.

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