Hey, Aussie mums

[mommylove]

Years ago, my friends in Australia taught me how to make the most incredible pumpkin soup. Instead of writing down the recipe, I figured I could remember it. I don't remember. I've tried a gazillion recipes, trying to get it right, but with no luck.

If any of you have a to-die-for recipe, could you you pass it along? :)

[deena]

:popcorn

[Meli]

I make one I love based on a Alison Holst recipe (New Zealander, but relatives send me her cookbooks a presents quite a bit). It uses about 2/3 pumpkin to 1/3 sweet potato. You fry onion, garlic, chilli powder, curry powder in butter, add cubed pumpkin and sweet potato and enough chicken stock for it to cook, but not so much the end result is watery - I just cover the vegetables. Cook until tender. Blend. You can add a tablespoon of peanut butter and stir through before serving if you like a still peanutty flavour to it.

[expatmom]

My Aussie friend makes a really good pumpkin soup, except I've realized that what she calls pumpkin isn't the same as what we call pumpkin. Her pumpkin is actually a squash! I'll ask her again for the recipe.

[Mum2Es]

I have a to-die-for pumpkin soup recipe that is mouthwateringly healthy and both my kids LOVE it!

Fry a thinly sliced onion and a clove of garlic in butter til transparent but not brown. Add 1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger, then a heap of cubed pumpkin and sweet potato. (I don't measure, but about twice as much pumpkln as sweet potato.) Stirfry together for a minute or two, then add chicken or vegetable stock, or plain water, to cover the vegies. Add one cup of red/orange lentils. Add 3 strips of orange rind (gives it a lovely sweetness) and a bay leaf or two. Stir well, bring to the boil, then simmer til vegetables are tender. Blend, then return to the pan with a cup or so of milk (til it is desired consistency and colour), season with salt and pepper if you like and warm back up. I serve it with freshly baked artisan bread and it's beautiful!! Freezes well too, I freeze single serves in ziplock bags for my work lunches!

---------- Post added at 07:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 PM ----------

Oh, and its by far best to use Jap Pumpkin.

[mommylove]

I make one I love based on a Alison Holst recipe (New Zealander, but relatives send me her cookbooks a presents quite a bit). It uses about 2/3 pumpkin to 1/3 sweet potato. You fry onion, garlic, chilli powder, curry powder in butter, add cubed pumpkin and sweet potato and enough chicken stock for it to cook, but not so much the end result is watery - I just cover the vegetables. Cook until tender. Blend. You can add a tablespoon of peanut butter and stir through before serving if you like a still peanutty flavour to it.

Peanut butter?! YUM. Thanks!

Her pumpkin is actually a squash! I'll ask her again for the recipe.
Thanks. My friends used butternut squash.


Oh, and its by far best to use Jap Pumpkin.

Yum. Your recipe sounds really good, too. Japanese Pumpkin is Kabocha Squash to us. :)

Here in the US, pumpkin soup isn't common. I don't know why -- it's so good and so healthy! Thanks again for the recipes, ladies.

[deena]

I'm gonna make some today. There are so many variations to choose from!!! Peanut butter? curry? orange peel? ginger? nutmeg? I might split it up into a few pans and try different flavors....

[deena]

I'm back. :) I tried the curry. The orange and nutmeg. And peanut butter. I liked the orange and nutmeg best. The peanut butter one ended up tasting like peanut butter soup. :giggle I think next time though I'll make it with fresh pumpkin or squash because I made it with canned pumpkin and it added no depth to the taste at all.

[Meli]

I'm back. :) I tried the curry. The orange and nutmeg. And peanut butter. I liked the orange and nutmeg best. The peanut butter one ended up tasting like peanut butter soup. :giggle I think next time though I'll make it with fresh pumpkin or squash because I made it with canned pumpkin and it added no depth to the taste at all.

So you're voting for my sister's recipe,over mine??!!:snooty That's it - you're off my friends list now!

:giggle I actually don't put the peanut butter in either - I just mentioned it because that what the original recipe said. I also think a big part of the recipe I shared is the addition of sweet potato/kumera, so no, I don't think canned pumpkin would cut it (although I can imagine it would be much more convenient! I don't think we can get canned pumpkin in Oz).

I have heard of recipes that baked the pumpkin first which apparently add a wonderful flavour.

[Kiwi Mama]

I have pumpkin (what you call squash) soup all the time, I love it!

Last night I had this:
Onion, fried in butter
Pumpkin
Vege stock
1 cup red lentils
Salt
At the end just a SPRINKLE of nutmeg. Sprinkle, stir and taste until it's enough, you don't want too much!
CREAM - the key!!! yum yum yum.

My favourite, though, is"

THAI PUMPKIN SOUP

Fry one onion in butter / oil until translucent. Add a couple teaspoons green curry paste (can you get that in America?) and fry for one minute. Add pumpkin, sweet potatoe and a carrot or two, and either stock or water. Boil until pumpkin soft, then add one can of coconut cream and some coriander leaves (I think you call them something else - cilantro?) to garnish.

[deena]

I have pumpkin (what you call squash) soup all the time, I love it!

Last night I had this:
Onion, fried in butter
Pumpkin
Vege stock
1 cup red lentils
Salt
At the end just a SPRINKLE of nutmeg. Sprinkle, stir and taste until it's enough, you don't want too much!
CREAM - the key!!! yum yum yum.

My favourite, though, is"

THAI PUMPKIN SOUP

Fry one onion in butter / oil until translucent. Add a couple teaspoons green curry paste (can you get that in America?) and fry for one minute. Add pumpkin, sweet potatoe and a carrot or two, and either stock or water. Boil until pumpkin soft, then add one can of coconut cream and some coriander leaves (I think you call them something else - cilantro?) to garnish.

Cool. Yes I can get the green curry. :jump :rockon

[Mum2Es]

So you're voting for my sister's recipe,over mine??!!:snooty That's it - you're off my friends list now!

Well I was actually going to say, I've tried both Meli's soup recipe and mine, and mine is better! Sorry Meli! :giggle

[Meli]

Well I was actually going to say, I've tried both Meli's soup recipe and mine, and mine is better! Sorry Meli! :giggle

I don't recall trying yours :think
But you are hands down a better cook than me. No contest. And I hate cooking most of the time anyway, so happy to hand you the crown for best pumpkin soup ;)