HOLISTIC CHEF EDDIE'S TIP OF THE DAY #76

I've been thinking of this soup because it's the holidays.  Haven't made it since last year and it screams Thanksgiving.  Today I'm featuring CURRIED PUMPKIN SOUP.  I don't know why I wait so long to make this recipe.  I guess it must be sacred to the holiday.  Actually even if there are no Pumpkins around, you can certainly substitute Acorn Squash or Butternut Squash.  My Father was in India for 4 years during WWII.  He was a cook and brought back with him a love of Indian cuisine.  Everyone to this day in our family loves Indian food.  The turmeric in curry, coconut milk, ginger that are indicative of Indian food are all there in this recipe.  You really can't top turmeric as a cancer fighting spice. It is high in Vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin K, Vitamin E and high in fiber.  You really can't go wrong with this soup.  I attended a formal dinner party one year where the host scraped out 8 miniature pumpkins, retained the shells and filled them with hot Pumpkin Soup.  It was a huge hit.  

                 CURRIED PUMPKIN SOUP

3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
1 large Red Onion, medium dice
4 large Cloves Garlic, roughly chopped
2 inch piece of Ginger, grated not washed if organic
3 Tablespoons Curry Powder
1 heaping teaspoon Garam Masala*
3 pound Pumpkins, peeled and cut into cubes
3-4 cups Vegetable Broth
1 can Coconut Milk, full fat
Salt and Pepper to taste
A squeeze of either Maple Syrup or Lacanto Maple Flavored Syrup if you like a sweeter soup

1)  Heat the Coconut Oil in a large soup pot and add the Sweet Onions, Garlic and Ginger.  Saute for 3-4 minutes until softened and then add the spices and cook until fragrant, stirring frequently so the spices don't burn for 2 more minutes.
2)  Add the Broth and Coconut Milk and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to simmer, cover and cook about 20 minutes until the Pumpkin is soft.  
3)  Using a good blender, blend the soup in batches until smooth.  If the soup is too thick, add more Broth.  Adjust the seasonings by adding Salt and Pepper to taste and the sweetener, if you desire.  Happy Holidays my dear friends!!