Pumpkin Soup With Coriander Pistou (France)

Pneuma's Note:

adapted from The Mediterranean Collection. posted for ZWT.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 6.0 bowls

• 500 g pumpkin flesh , cubed
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 4 garlic cloves , peeled but left whole
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion , chopped
• 2 celery ribs , sliced
• 1 red chili pepper , deseeded and chopped
• 1 ¼ liters vegetable stock
• salt and pepper , as needed

Coriander pistou

• 25 g coriander leaves
• 1 garlic clove , crushed
• 1 tablespoon blanched almond , chopped
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper

Directions:

1. Put pumpkin, thyme sprigs and garlic cloves in a roasting tin to fit in snugly in a single layer.
2. Add half of the oil and toss gently to coat well. Season liberally with sat and pepper and roast in a preheated oven, 200C (400F), Gas Mark 6, for 30 minutes, until charred and softened.
3. Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a deep saucepan. Gently fry onion, celery and chili for 10 mins or until softened,.
4. .Add the stock, bring to a boil and simmer, covered for 20 minutes Stir in the roasted pumpkin and all the pan scrapings, return to boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Discard thyme sprigs, then transfer the soup to a food processor or blender and puree in batches, until smooth, Keep warm.
6. Place all the ingredients for the coriander pistou in a spice grinder and grind to form a smooth paste, or use a mortar and pestle. Spoon the soup into warmed bowls and swirl a llittle pistou in each one.

Reviews

[LilKiwiChicken]

I made this last night and it was beautiful. The pumpkin soup was silky and smooth and the pistou was just fantastic. I would say that the soup is a 4 star soup, the pumpkin flavour is not very strong but it's lovely with the chili added, it just has a nice little tingle to it. It's the pistou that makes this a 5 in my book - it just compliments the soup beautifully. I did add more almonds than the recipe called for and they stayed quite chunky, but that was lovely with the soup. It's also a very easy soup to make, hardly any chopping and peeling really and it comes together quite quickly. Thank you for posting Pneuma, made for Aussie/Kiwi Swap June 09