Moroccan Pumpkin Soup

Winter days always make me want to eat soup.  I can’t get enough of it.  It’s probably one of the best things about winter, eating a bowl of yummy hot soup.  Another is a glass of red wine by the fire.  Put all three together and you are sure to be in some sort of winter heaven.

The challenges with wanting to eat soup every day of winter is variety and finding soups that are healthy.  Yes that’s right, some soups aren’t healthy!  The ones that are full of cream or contain particular ingredients can be quite disagreeable to those with certain dietary requirements.

Recently I created a delicious soup that is gluten free, dairy free, low fat, vegetarian and very quick and easy to make.  Just in time before it officially becomes spring.

What you need;

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (I used Cobram Estate*)

1 brown onion – diced

2 cloves garlic - crushed

2 kg Kent pumpkin – peeled and chopped into even sized pieces (about 3cm)

1 medium sweet potato – peeled and chopped into even sized pieces (about 3 cm)

1 medium carrot – chopped into even sized pieces about 3 cm

375 grams tinned chickpeas

3-4 tablespoons of Moroccan Spice (I used Coles* brand)

1.5 litres of vegetable stock (I used Vegeta*)

Salt & pepper to taste

Meredith* goats cheese – crumbled to serve

What you do:

Heat oil in a large pot.  Add onion and garlic and fry until translucent.   Add pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot and Moroccan spice and stir over medium heat coating the vegetables with the spice, onion and garlic.  Do this for about 1 minute.

Pour in stock, turn heat to high and bring to the boil.  Once boiling, reduce heat to low until all vegetables are soft.  Remove from heat and allow to slightly cool before blending until smooth.

When you are happy with the consistency of the soup – it should be smooth and thick – place back on a low heat and add the chickpeas and the salt and pepper.  Keep on low heat for about ten to fifteen minutes.

Serve with some crumbled Meredith goats cheese and some gluten free sour dough bread.

Delightful!  Enjoy friends.

*I receive no financial gain from the brands of the products that I have named in this soup.  They are only my preference – you are welcome to use any brand you desire.