Pumpkin Leek Soup with Red Hot Beet Chips

Until now I’ve never even thought of cooking a pumpkin. Carving and lighting with a candle to display outside the front door was about all I could handle. But along came not one but two pumpkins in this week’s organic produce box, and I tossed the question to my foodie friends: What can you do with these orange orbs?

Susan Ranger suggested soup. As I surveyed the rest of the ingredients in this week’s box, a vision appeared—in the form of my sister, wonderful, experienced cook Julia Richardson. She suggested this Pumpkin Leek Soup.

 Pumpkin Leek Soup 

• 2 small pumpkin squash, halved, seeded, roasted at 420F for 45 minutes with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, flesh scooped or cut out
• 3 carrots, cut into spears, roasted at 420F for 30 minutes with a little olive oil, salt and pepper
• 3 slender leeks, trimmed, cut lengthwise, well washed, sliced in 1/2-inch pieces, including greens
• 2 onions, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 T olive oil
• 8 c water and seasoning, or soup stock (enough to cover vegetables)
• 1/2 T fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a large pot, heat olive oil on medium, then add onions, leeks and garlic. Cover and turn heat down to low. Cook, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes until softened. Add pumpkin flesh and remaining ingredients, then cook for 15 minutes on medium-low, stirring occasionally.  Cool, blend to a creamy purée and serve with Crispy Beet Chips. Serves 10.

Red Hot Beet Chips

• 3 large beets, peeled, thinly sliced on a mandolin or by hand
• 1 T olive oil
• 3/4 T Frank’s RedHot Sauce
• 2 t chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 t kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a large baking pan, combine all ingredients and lay the beets out in a single layer. Bake for 40 minutes, turning and removing slices as they are done. Note: These chips are not really crispy, but they are delicious. For crispy beet chips, you’ll need a dehydrator.   

Pumpkin Leek Soup and Red Hot Beet Chips Print Ready Recipe

 

Final notes:

• Here are 13 movies you might be excited to see this season.
• Have you been enjoying the stunning fall colours?
• Have you seen Humans of New York?  First I was impressed with these photos and interviews of strangers; suddenly I’m obsessed. Brandon will capture your heart in the four minutes it takes to watch him work his magic. Wishing to pay homage to HONY,  I’ve given birth to a brand new JC page,  Jittery Jabber.- sharing your food stories, one by one.