Sunday, 15. November 2009
There are many different ways to make pumpkin soup. While you may not be able to think of many variations off the top of your head, there are many different recipes for this soup beyond the creamy classic version. One such easy version involves pouring honey over the pumpkin, garlic, and onions before roasting them. The roasted vegetables are then made into a delicious soup.
Another easy pumpkin soup variation to try is pumpkin and cheese. This is a simple soup you can make using canned pumpkin puree. Simply add in your ingredients like spices, cream, broth, brown sugar and some grated cheddar cheese. Serve this soup with some fresh rolls or melt some grated cheese on top until it is bubbly and delicious.
A further variation on pumpkin soup uses Marsala wine and real maple syrup. The rich flavors combine to create a delicious soup. Always use real maple syrup for this variation. Imitation syrups do not create the same flavors in your soup.
You can also change the flavor of your soup by trying a new cuisine. Take your basic pumpkin soup and change the spices. Before you know it, you will have a Mexican, a Thai, a Haitian, or a Jamaican soup instead. While they all started with the same base, the spices will prevail, changing the flavor and making a new soup.
For a more exotic flavor, try pumpkin ginger soup. Ginger will give this creamy soup a bit of heat and Asian flavor. If you like it hotter you can add some chilies as well. Garnish the soup with a little chopped cilantro and pumpkin seeds. If you like a whiter soup, try using white pumpkin. This soup is not your average pumpkin soup! Serve it as an appetizer for an Asian themed meal or serve it alone.
Specialty ingredients can also alter the results of your soup. Bacon adds a nice smokiness to the soup, while chocolate will make the most delicious dessert soup. Pumpkin soup can be spicy, too. Peppers of various types as well as curry and other spices can be used to create a complex flavor. Peanut butter can make a distinctive soup when mixed with pumpkin and sausage. This is a fast recipe that can be put together in a short amount of time.
Ingredients you traditionally associate with fall like apples are often added to pumpkin soup. You can use other winter squashes like butternut or acorn in your soup. Even sweet potatoes will add a new twist, adding their own sweetness and texture. Do not be afraid to use herbs to create different flavor blends in your soup. In the hot days of summer, try a chilled pumpkin soup that will help your guests cool down admirably.
No matter what changes you make to your pumpkin soup, you will be eating a delicious, rich soup that will fill you up. The velvety texture feels good in the mouth and the cream gives you a satisfying taste. Even if you do not have a lot of time you can make pumpkin soup. Simply make it in the crockpot and let it cook while you are busy.
A delicious pumpkin soup recipe will make your holiday dinner spectacular! Imagine serving an appetizer of rich, smooth pumpkin soup on Thanksgiving to all your relatives. They will be oohing and ahhing over the soup so much they may forget the turkey!
Posted in Cooking by Ken Kudra -
Friday, 6. November 2009
In North America, pumpkins refer specifically to a certain type of squash that is normally orange in color. In many parts of the world, they call any winter squash a pumpkin. Did you know that there are many uses for traditional pumpkins besides carving them for Halloween or making pumpkin pie?
Both the seeds and flesh of the pumpkin are edible and can be used in many recipes. The seeds are full of zinc, which is a mineral that is necessary for good health. Add the roasted seeds into cereals, snack mixes, breads or just eat them as a snack. If you have tasted pumpkin pie and butternut squash, you have a general idea how the pumpkin flesh will taste. This vegetable can be made into both savory and sweet dishes your family will love.
A whole roasted pumpkin can be quite a sight on the table. Pumpkin can be used to make delicious sweet breads. Drop in a handful of cranberries for a holiday dish. Spread pumpkin butter on your toast in the morning instead of butter. You can also use it in your morning granola with a dollop of yogurt for breakfast. Toss in a few toasted pumpkin seeds too.
Use pumpkin to make rich cakes, muffins, and cupcakes. Their spicy goodness is always welcome. Make a pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling to have for the holidays. It tastes great and looks pretty! Pumpkin cheesecake is a seasonal favorite in many places and it is easy to find in the fall and winter. Use pumpkin in cookies and pudding too. All of these recipes are great ways to get more pumpkin in your diet.
While many people have not tried pumpkin soup, it is a delicious way to include this versatile vegetable into a meal. You can make it spicy, creamy, and roasted or you can make it into chowder. Serve it as a complete meal or as an appetizer. Top the soup with a dollop of sour cream or a few toasted pumpkin seeds for a beautiful presentation.
Pumpkin is great to add to rice or pasta dishes. Try some delicious pumpkin risotto or make a filling for ravioli out of pumpkin. Mix chunks of pumpkin with other vegetables and make a roasted veggie dish. Mix pumpkin with cheese and polenta for something new. Pumpkin is full of vitamins like beta-carotene. Add more to your seasonal dishes and help boost your immune system for winter.
Add pumpkin to your morning by making pumpkin donuts, muffins, scones, and pancakes. Serve your pancakes with whipped topping or syrup. Pumpkin is so versatile it works equally well with sweet or savory. Mix up the flavors by adding crumbled bacon bits to your pancake batter.
Pumpkin ice cream, pie, and tarts can also be a great way to end a meal. They are not as sweet as cakes and cookies. This is a great way to add the flavor of pumpkin to your meal and celebrate the fall season.
Choosing recipes for creamy pumpkin soups will build up your collection of delicious delights for the holiday season. These creamy soups warm you up and taste marvelous. Take some time to explore thick creamy soups. They are truly a gourmet experience.
Posted in Cooking by Ken Kudra -
Monday, 14. September 2009
Autumn is a great time to try out new seasonal recipes, and pumpkin soup is a wonderful choice. After all, there is more to these big orange squash than just pie! There are so many options available – from velvety pumpkin bisque with sweet spices to rich, garlicky soup with strong Swiss style cheeses, to stew with potatoes, tomatoes and chunks of pumpkin. You will love all of them.
Pumpkin works great in cuisines from all over the world – a curried pumpkin soup might be a great choice for you. Alternatively, you could stick with homey traditional tastes. There are all kinds of options out there, even though many people do not realize that pumpkin is good for more than just desserts.
However, there is one big problem with making pumpkin soup – the recipes! Since not too many people even know that you can make soup from a pumpkin, it can be hard to find a good recipe. Most cookbooks do not have much information about cooking pumpkin this way, for instance. However, you do not have to go without – the Internet is the answer.
There are plenty of excellent recipes for pumpkin soup online. From personal sites to recipe hubs, there are all kinds of cooking repositories that have options for pumpkin soup. Just head to your favorite cooking site, or punch a few keywords into your preferred search engine. Lots of options will turn up, and all you have to do is sift through.
Of course, not all pumpkin soup recipes are going to be alike. You could run into some that are poorly written, or which assume that you understand what to do. They could leave some steps out, resulting in a recipe that does not come out like you planned. Take the time to examine any recipe you decide to use.
You can also take a trip to a site that you know will be trustworthy. There are several specialty sites out there covering fall recipes and how to cook a pumpkin. They will have information that has already been checked out in advance. It is no guarantee that you will love the recipe when it has finished, but it can help you make sure the recipes are put together properly.
Make sure you check out any recipe to ensure that the ingredients are ones you like and have on hand, and that you understand the instructions you are given. There are plenty of excellent ways to cook soups with pumpkin in them, from making them a crock-pot to cooking inside a pumpkin. Add in all the excellent options for presentation, and you will have a wonderful seasonal dish.
If you have been looking for something new this autumn, it might be time to start looking for more than your usual recipes. Pumpkin is for more than just desserts, and soup is one of the best choices you can make. Do not just stick with the same old thing you have been making for years when you could be having something new and different.
Every pumpkin soup recipe tells a story. This one with the curry talks about the role pumpkins play in India… how they use this wonderful vegetable to its full advantage. The one with the apples reminds one of traditional dishes of squash and apples made in the fall.
Posted in Cooking by Kc Kudra -