Pumpkin And Pear Soup

Every fall I seem to develop an obsession for pumpkin, and find myself using pumpkin for everything from baked goods to soups. This tasty pumpkin soup recipe is a variation of a soup recipe I make every fall, but this year I decided to add roasted pears to it to add a little extra sweetness. I always start my soup with a saute of onions and garlic in butter which lays a flavor base for the soup creating a full bodied, not too sweet soup.

I prefer to roast my fresh pumpkin first before using it to increase the flavor that develops through the caramelization that takes place when vegetables are roasted. I also roasted the pears in this recipe to add depth to their flavor too. This soup is blended smooth which creates a creamy texture that doesn’t require the addition of heavy cream to thicken it. I use my hand immersion blender which works perfectly for jobs like this, but any blender or food processor will work. The amount of broth needed for the soup will depend on how much moisture is in your pumpkin, as well as how thick you prefer your soup to be. Just allow the soup to cool a bit before blending it to prevent boiling hot soup from flying around your kitchen. This soup turned out even better than I had hoped and would be a perfect choice for Thanksgiving or to begin any special fall dinner. The soup is best served warm and not too hot so you can taste the complexity of flavors and since the flavors seem to develop further the day after it is made, it is a great soup to make the day before you plan on serving it. Just allow the soup to cool, then refrigerate it until needed, and reheat gently adding a little additional broth if the soup seems too thick.

To Roast Pumpkin And Pears: Cut the pumpkin into thick slices, removing seeds and stringy loose flesh inside. Reserve seeds for roasting. Cut the pears in half, peel and core. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place the pumpkin and pears on top. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F. oven until both the pears and pumpkin are fork tender and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes for the pears and 45 minutes for the pumpkin. Allow to cool and scoop out the pumpkin flesh keeping 4 cups for the soup and reserving rest for another use. Chop the pears coarsely.

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds: Scoop out the seeds from the stringy flesh and place in a sieve over running water. Rub the seeds gently to remove any clinging flesh. Pat dry. Toss the seeds with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a foil lined baking sheet. Roast in a preheated 375 degree F. oven for 7 to 10 minutes or until the seeds are lightly browned and crispy.You can garnish this soup with a variety of different options such as a dollop of light sour cream, a spoonful of diced pears and chopped roasted chestnuts sauteed until tender, some chopped fresh greens such as watercress, or with a sprinkling of roasted crisp pumpkin seeds as I used in the photo.

• Pumpkin is low in fat and calories and rich in disease-fighting nutrients such as Alpha-carotene, Beta-carotene, Fiber, Vitamins C and E, Potassium, Magnesium, and Pantothenic acid.