Curried Pumpkin Soup with Chicken

 

(*To note: This picture actually shows curried butternut-pumpkin soup. This recipe will make a more orange soup. Close enough.)

A recipe of sorts, based on this. Makes a big ol' pot of delicious soup! The amounts given are loose, and I always add more spices, to taste, as I'm making it. I highly recommend tasting frequently as you cook. That's how I maintain this robust figure! :)

We have enough pumpkins for perhaps one more pot. I will miss it when they are gone, and will probably make it using butternut squash, instead.

Curried Pumpkin Soup with Chicken

-6 small New England sugar pie pumpkins, halved, de-seeded, and roasted until flesh is tender

-a stick of butter

-3 onions, finely chopped

-a large head of garlic (a full head, not one clove), pressed

-2 tbsp. yellow curry powder, more to taste

-1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg, more to taste

-a couple of tablespoons freshly minced ginger

-1/2 tsp. ground cayenne (optional), to taste

-1 tsp. salt, to taste

-1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

-6 cups chicken bone broth (or stock/broth)

-1 can full-fat coconut milk

-additional cow's milk or cream, as needed

-several pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into very thin strips

-chopped cilantro, if desired

-pumpkin seeds for garnish, if desired, either toasted from the pumpkins or green pepitas given to you by your mother-in-law :)

Directions:

1. Scoop the cooked pumpkin flesh out of shells and puree in batches in the blender with enough of the bone broth and/or coconut milk to help blend evenly. Place in a pot and stir in the remainder of the broth and coconut milk. Add additional cow's milk or cream until you reach the desired consistency. 

2. Saute the chopped onions in the butter over medium heat until soft and translucent. Add the minced ginger and pressed garlic until fragrant. Add to pot with pumpkin puree.

3. Add remainder of ingredients (except pumpkin seeds) to pot and heat over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through.

If desired, add pumpkin seeds for garnish.