Pumpkin Soup – like you have never tasted before

Hi all,

It’s getting chilly now isn’t it, and the nutrition guru is still only able to drink liquids due to her medical condition, so we are on the quest for different flavours. We thought we would share our pumpkin soup recipe, as well as some fun variations you can try. We apologise that the recipe is not an ‘exact’ recipe. Our soups they are usually just thrown together. But we hope this gives you the inspiration to ‘throw together’ your own! To finish off, we will show you how and WHY you should try our SUPER HEALTHY SPICED PUMPKIN, BARLEY, QUINOA, and CHIA SOUP.

Basic pumpkin soup:

 Roast approx:

1. 500grams pumpkin
2. 2 whole onions (skin on)
3. 1 whole knob of garlic (skin on)
4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper

Optional: you can add a tablespoon of curry paste (such as massaman, green, red, or yellow) or/sprinkle dried herbs over the top/ a sprig of rosemary/ a couple of teaspoons of curry powder.

The nutrition guru has a special trick: Drizzle real maple syrup over the top before baking to make the vegetables caramelise and add a gorgeous sweet caramel flavour!

1. Bake on an oiled tray in oven at 200 degrees celsius for approximately 30-40 mins.
2. Bake until cooked through and browned.
3. Remove cooked vegetables from the oven.
4. Get a large saucepan ready on the stove to prepare the soup.
5. Squeeze out the onion from their skins into the saucepan. Do the same with the knob of garlic and discard the skins. Place pumpkin into the saucepan.
6. Add 1.5 Litres of chicken or vegetable stock and bring to boil. Let boil for 5 mins.
7. Remove from the heat and blend with a stick blender until smooth.
8. Serve and enjoy!

So the above recipe is a very healthy low kilojoule recipe, but if you would like a few variations to this basic recipe then read on:

TIPS: (1) to add creaminess but still keep the recipe low kilojoule, add a can of light evaporated milk (super low in fat) to the saucepan at the end before blending.

(2) to make Thai style coconut soup:  add curry paste or curry powder when baking the veg and to keep it low in fat, add a can of  coconut flavoured evaporated milk to the saucepan before blending. Add a can of normal coconut milk if weight management is not a concern.

(4) You can also add cream and mixed herbs to the saucepan before blending if you are doing a western style soup.

WE HAVE HAD SOME REQUESTS FOR OUR SPICED PUMPKIN, QUINOA, BARLEY AND CHIA SEED SOUP

Ingredients

1. 1 Cup Barley – soaked in water for 6 hours
2. 1 cup Quinoa
3. 1/2 cup Chia seeds (available from all supermarkets and health food stores)

Method

1. PLace your pumpkin soup into a large pan on the stove (we used the thai style pumkin soup with coconut milk and curry paste from earlier).
2. In a seperate saucepan boil on high heat the barley and quinoa for 15 mins. Drain.
3. Add the drained barley and quinoa to the pumkin soup mixture
4. Stir through the chia seeds.
5. Bring soup to the boil for approx 5 mins.
6. Blend if you would like a smooth mixture, or you can leave as is for a chunky soup or pasta sauce

This soup is so nutritious – Here’s why

Pumpkin:

• Packed full of fibre for the digestive system
• Excellent source of the antioxidants A and C which fight free radicals and wonderful for the skin
• Contains some potassium, vitamin b6 and some iron
• The yellow pigment that gives pumkin it’s vibrant yellow colour is beta carotene – also an antioxidant

QUINOA

• High in fibre for a healthy digestive system
• High in protein, containing all of the 9 essential amino acids our body requires. It is very  high in the amino acid ‘lysine’ which is essential for tissue growth and repair.
• High in manganese – an antioxidant to prevent against oxidative damage and has also shown to be able to relax blood vessels.
• Also contains iron.

GARLIC

• has antiseptic and antibiotic properties
• Cold and flu deterrant

ONION

• Good source of vitamin C, B3 and Calcium
• High in the polyphenol ‘quercitin’ and antioxidant which prevents oxidative damage
• The pungent smell of onions is from the sulfur containing compounds. These are important for our body to manufacture our connective tissue such as tendons as well as our hair and nails.

CHIA SEEDS

• These guys are not some fad, but definately here to stay. Chia seeds are super tiny but very high in fibre which is essential for sweeping our digestive system and therefore preventing cancer.
• They contain high levels of antioxidants which also prevents cancer, and is good for keeping skin and all the cells of our body healthy. They contain iron, and are high in protein.
• They also contain Omega 3 oils which are wonderful for keeping skin healthy, reducing inflammation and protecting our heart from heart disease.

BARLEY

• High in fibre, especially  beta glucans which can help to lower cholesterol
• High in phosphorous, important for strong bones and teeth. It also is involved in turning the fats proteins and carbohydrates we eat, into energy for the body.
• High in selenium a wonderful antioxidant which may prevent some cancers

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR PUMPKIN SOUP? DO YOU HAVE ANY PUMPKIN SOUP SECRETS YOU WISH TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? WHO IS GOING TO TRY THE HEALTHY SPICED PUMPKIN, BARLEY, QUINOA AND CHIA SEED SOUP?