Thick & Spicy Soup

Baby Kato's Note:

I hope you enjoy this spicy and hearty soup that was created for RSC 9. Serve with a crusty loaf of white bread and sweet butter.

• Total Time: 2 hrs
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 tablespoon fennel seed , crushed
• ½ teaspoon sea salt , coarse
• 1 tablespoon fresh orange rind
• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger , minced
• 2 fresh garlic cloves , minced
• 1 large sweet white onion , chopped
• 2 large fresh shallots , finely chopped
• 1 -1 ½ tablespoon Thai red curry paste
• 1 tablespoon soya sauce
• ½ cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened coconut milk
• 28 ounces canned tomatoes , whole, crushed, undrained
• 1 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
• 1 cup fresh carrot , thinly sliced
• 1 cup fresh white potato , diced
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (garnish)
• 1 fresh scallion , finely chopped (garnish)
• ¼ cup dried apricot , finely sliced (garnish)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in large pot, over medium heat.
2. Add fennel seeds, sea salt, orange rind, ginger, garlic, onions, shallots and fry on medium heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Next add the red curry paste, soya sauce and peanut butter, fry on medium heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly, don't let it burn.
4. Quickly add chicken stock, tomato juice, pumpkin puree, brown sugar and cinnamon stick.
5. Stir and bring mixture to a boil, lower heat and let simmer 20 minutes.
6. Add coconut milk and let simmer another 20 minutes.
7. Finally add the carrots, potatoes and crushed tomatoes, let the soup simmer for 40 minutes.
8. Once potatoes are tender, remove the cinnamon stick, taste the soup and reseason with salt and/or brown sugar if necessary, according to taste.
9. Pour soup into blender and puree until the soup is smooth.
10. Garnish with red pepper flakes, finely chopped scallions and diced apricots.
11. Serve immediately.

Reviews

[Susie D]

I was intrigued by the combination of ingredients in this recipe. They worked together wonderfully, very different from what I normally make, but good. I ended up omitting the dried apricot garnish as there were still so many contest ingredients used in the recipe, but don't think that affected the flavor. I garnished with chopped cilantro instead. Good luck in the contest!

[LUv 2 BaKE]

After reading the list of ingredients, this recipe intrigued me. It looked good, but I wasn't sure if all those ingredients would work together. Guess what...THEY DID!! This soup is amazing. It is nice and thick and smooth. You cannot taste many of the individual ingredients, as the soup blends them all into one exquisite flavour. The cinnamon is quite apparent though, which I actually liked. I used light coconut milk, light soy sauce and natural peanut butter. This soup made 7 decent servings for us. The apricots were pretty good as a garnish, but I prefered it without. You created one fantastic soup! Reviewed for RSC #9.

[ILuvRecipes]

At first glance you'd think, how could this assortment of ingredients possible taste good together? Well, they do. This was a tasty thick soup. I don't like the fresh ginger so just used some powdered. I also decreased the brown sugar. I served it with warm biscuits and cheese.