Croatian Green Pumpkin Soup Recipes

PUMPKIN SOUP WITH THAI GREEN CURRY PASTE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Simmer stock, puree and heavy cream until desired consistency. Bake diced bread on a sheet pan in the oven at 450 degrees until browned. Meanwhile, mix olive oil and green curry in a bowl. Remove bread from oven and place in the bowl, covering it with curry. Place bread crumbs back into oven until crisp.
• Remove skin from pumpkin and chop the meat into small pieces. Heat butter in a saute pan and add the pumpkin. Add the water and simmer covered for about 20 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender. Remove the pumpkin meat and mash it by hand or in a food processor.

CROATIAN GREEN PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot place shredded pumpkin, add 2.5 cups of water. Let pot boil and then reduce heat to medium-high and let cook for 30 minutes.
• In a separate pan add olive oil, onion and garlic. Cook until garlic and onion is cooked and lightly browned. Once cooked set aside.
• After 30 minutes turn off heat, add onion mixture and tub of sour cream to soup. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• You can eat the soup this way or you can blend it. I like it blended so the soup is creamy. I blend the soup and then put it back in the pot. I add paprika and cayenne (by taste).

CREAMY PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. If the onions begin browning too quickly, turn the heat to low.
• Add the maple syrup and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have darkened in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cider and cook, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half.
• Add the broth, pumpkin purée, curry powder, nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook at a full simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching.
• Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor and return to the pot (or use an immersion blender). Bring back to a simmer over medium heat, then turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more broth if the soup is too thick.
• To make the optional fried sage topping, melt the butter in a small or medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves and fry until just crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a fork, transfer the sage leaves to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the butter left behind in the pan.
• To serve, spoon the soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with 2 fried sage leaves and a drizzle of the reserved butter (if using), or a swirl of cream and pinch of nutmeg. Serve hot.

CREAM OF PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). To make the croutons, combine softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Spread butter mixture evenly over one side of each bread slice. Place bread, buttered side up, on a baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until bread is crisp and topping is bubbly. Cut each slice of bread into 8 small triangles or squares.
• Saute onion in butter in a medium saucepan until tender. Add 1 can chicken broth; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.
• Transfer broth mixture into the container of a blender or processor. Process until smooth.
• Return mixture to saucepan. Add remaining can of broth, pumpkin, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground pepper; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in whipping cream and heat through. Do not boil. Ladle into individual soup bowls. Top each serving with Cinnamon Croutons.