Making Easy Cold Pumpkin Soup

By Ken Kudra

If cold pumpkin soup sounds a little strange to you, you are not alone. Lots of people in the US have never encountered this cool, smooth treat, but they are missing out. If you have only every had pumpkin soup at Thanksgiving, you have never really experienced it. There are all kinds of soups from all over the world that you need to try.

Pumpkin soup is a real taste treat, even if the idea of an orange soup seems a little strange. Many people have never even tried the more common hot pumpkin bisque that is often made for Thanksgiving. However, if you have not had sweet, delicious cold pumpkin soup yet, you are missing out on a really delicious experience.

Serve up your favorite pumpkin soup in bowls or mugs, cook it right in the pumpkin, or hollow out a pumpkin to serve as centerpiece and serving dish, too. Garnish with green onion, chopped parsley, or sweet spices like cloves and cinnamon. While your family might start out skeptical, they will end up loving this unique dish.

Pumpkins do not just make creamy, delicious meals - they are also full of good nutrition. Vitamins A and C, iron and fiber are all found in pumpkins, as well as a number of other important nutrients, too. Even your kids will love eating their vegetables after you get them hooked on pumpkin soup.

Try a southeast Asian inspired pumpkin soup recipe easy and quick. With a little carrot and coconut, you have a spicy, exotic treat that is great served during those last hot late summer days, when pumpkins first appear at roadside stands. Of course, to try this soup when pumpkins are not in season, just used frozen or canned products.

The best kind of pumpkin to use for these soups is a small type, usually referred to as a pie pumpkin. Do not use a jack-o-lantern pumpkin! They are harder, woodier, and less flavorful than their smaller, sweeter, more tender cousins are. Pumpkins can be easily prepared for cooking by slicing them in half, cleaning out the seeds, and cutting them into smaller pieces.

Next, peel your pumpkin and cook the flesh until it is soft, or boil or bake it, then scoop the meat out of the skin once the pieces have cooled off. Either way, compost the parings or use them to make stock, then mash the pulp or put it in the blender.

Savory ingredients that go well with pumpkin include garlic and onion, as well as chicken and vegetable broths. Add in coconut, soy, or cow's milk, or some cream or half and half. Then blend partially or completely to get a smooth result, with or without some textural pieces. Chill and serve for a real taste sensation. - 30289

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