Roasted Pumpkin Garlic Soup

Local chef Jimmy Boswell has been experimenting with our yoghurt, here’s one of his recipes that is perfect for winter-time …

Ingredients:

• 1kg pumpkin
• 1 head garlic
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt
• Fresh ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2 stalks celery
• 2 medium carrots
• 1/2 tsp each ground cumin and cardamom
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh chilli, crushed (optional) or ¼ ground chilli powder.
• ½ cup Raglan Coconut Yoghur

Method:

1. Cut the pumpkin into medium wedges, skin on. I don’t cut them too small since I am roasting them without peeling to get a bit of extra flavour into the pumpkin while it roasts. Toss in olive oil, season with salt and pepper in a roasting tin.
2. Cut the top off a head of garlic and drizzle a little oil over the cloves then wrap the garlic in tin foil and add to the pumpkin. Roast at 200C for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft.
3. About 5-10 minutes before the pumpkin is cooked coarsely chop the onion, celery and carrot and fry over a medium heat until the onion is translucent. Add the ground cumin, cardamom and turmeric and fry briefly. Add the stock, salt and pepper to season and chili (if you like a bit of heat in your soup). Bring to the boil and then reduce to simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Once this is simmering, remove the pumpkin and garlic from the oven and let cool till its cooled enough to handle. Remove the skin from the cooked pumpkin and then squeeze out the roasted garlic and add to the soup along with the pumpkin. You may need to add some water at this stage to just cover the vegetables. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
5. Once cooked, blend in batches and adjust the seasoning if needed.
6. Serve with a hearty swirl of Raglan Coconut Yoghurt and chopped chives or parsley.