Clothbound Cheddar Pumpkin Soup with a Crispy Onion, Ginger, and Chilies Garnish
Make this easy soup with butternut, acorn, or any similar squash from the farmers’ market, and be sure to enjoy it with the spicy crispy onion garnish. An immersion blender can be used instead of a countertop blender.
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 2 1/2 pounds pumpkin peeled, seeded, and chopped into 4-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 pound clothbound cheddar cheese shredded
Crispy Onion, Ginger, and Chilies Garnish
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt plus more as needed
- 1/2 yellow onion sliced thin
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger peeled and julienned
- 3 to 5 red Thai chilies (or something similar in heat and size) chopped on a long diagonal
- Canola oil to fry
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°F and toss pumpkin, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and a teaspoon of salt together on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, or until tender, flipping pumpkin half way.
- Heat remaining olive oil over medium heat in a heavy-bottom pot. Sauté onion for 3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and roasted pumpkin, and continue to cook for another 3 minutes. Pour in broth and bring to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Pour soup mixture into a blender and cover with blender top, leaving the small vent open to let hot steam escape. Cover with a kitchen towel and hold firmly to prevent hot liquid from escaping. Slowly start blender, steadily increasing speed until at full power. Remove kitchen towel from over top and blend until creamy. Pour blended soup back into warm pot. Whisk in cheese until melted, about 4 minutes. Pour soup back into blender and mix again until velvety smooth. Taste and season with more salt if desired. Serve hot with spicy, crispy garnish.
- Heat 3 to 4 inches of canola oil over high heat in a heavy-bottom pot until temperature reaches 375°F.
- Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Add chopped ingredients and flip 4 times to coat. Tap off excess flour, and use a stainless-steel spider strainer to place coated mixture into the hot oil.
- Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute.
Jenny Bravo
Jenny Bravo is a food photographer and the owner of a production studio and online home decor store in Portland, ME. Having started her career out of culinary school as a private chef, she is passionate about developing simple and elegant seasonal recipes.
