Recipe | Curry Spiced Pumpkin Soup

      I have been craving pumpkin soup for the past few weeks.  Our fall has been fairly mild.  This weekend the temperatures fell, it was windy, scattered sprinkles and just miserable at times. Sunday afternoon I made pumpkin soup to go with the Panko crusted pork chops and peas I made for dinner.  I love just about any kind of squash with pork.  Pumpkin soup is a nice beginning to a meal on a cold evening.  The boys really liked the warmth from the cumin and cinnamon.  Dijon mustard brings a nice depth of flavor.  Sunflower kernels add texture and a bit of nutty, salty flavor.   I had just enough soup left over to have a bowl for lunch and for Erich to have a bowl after school today.

Curry Spiced Pumpkin Soup

2  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1  clove garlic minced
1  medium sweet onion chopped
1  15 ounce can pumpkin puree
1  32 ounce low sodium chicken broth  (or vegetable broth)
2  teaspoons brown sugar
1/2  teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4  teaspoon ground pepper
1/2  teaspoon ground cinnamon
1  teaspoon curry powder

1/8  teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2  teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2  cup half and half

Garnish:  sunflower kernels

      In Dutch oven simmer chopped onion in olive oil until translucent.  Add minced garlic and stir for 1 minute.  Add broth, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, Dijon mustard and spices.  Simmer uncovered on low heat for a half an hour.  Turn heat off.  Allow soup to cool.  Transfer soup to blender and blend until smooth.  Return soup to Dutch oven over medium-low heat and bring soup to bubbling simmer.  Add half and half and stir until the soup thickens (a minute or so) then turn heat down to low and simmer 15 minutes.

Ladle soup to bowls and garnish with sunflower kernels.  Salt and pepper to taste.

                 It's hard to believe that October has come and gone so quickly this year.
                                             
                                               ~Marcie

                                     Photos at the Firestone Farmhouse taken by moi.