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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Healthier Pumpkin Soup - Fusion


The weather is start to windy, rainy and cloudy in Indonesia now... 
I think the rainy season is start to come and autumn season in the other side of the world wich the country have 4 season.  
Most of people I know loves summer than rainy season or summer and spring more than winter and autumn, but I just in love with that rainy - autumn - winter season... I just feeling... Romantic! ;)

Since 2 week ago lot's of my food-blogger friend start to posting "all about pumpkin" recipe and I just so exited with the autumn and rainy season which start to come. 1 of the reason, pumpkin is one of my favorite ingredients and as you know SOUP is always following when that 2 season is start to visiting us!


I use kabocha for the soup, it's Japanese pumpkin. Kabocha has a sweeter taste more than other type of pumpkin. It's high with potasium, vit B and C and as the source of complex carbohydrates which good for increasing energy.

The idea to use miso paste is from the cookbook, I just less the green onion and add potato & cayenne paper. I got the miso paste from one of my friend from japan, Natasha, since then I falling in love with the flavor and often use this miso paste at my dish :)

This pumpkin soup is maybe a little different like others pumpkin soup you use to have, it's pumpkin soup fusion style - a healthier style! How that sound?! 

Ingredients: 
  • For dashi : 1 handful Bonito Flakes and 900 ml Water
  • 1 kg Kabocha
  • 1 medium Potato, cut into cubes
  • 1 medium Onion, slice cubes
  • 1/2 cup Low Fat High Calsium Fresh Milk
  • 2 tbsp Miso Paste
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp Cayenne Paper  (you can skip this if you want to serve this to kids)
  • 1 tbsp Low Fat Butter
  • 1 tsp Canola Oil 
  • Asian Chives, slice 2 cm - for garnish
  • Serve with : Garlic Bread


Directions : 
  • Deseeded kabocha, cut into cubes, Steamed until tender.

  • To make (simple) dashi : boiling the water, turn of the heat. Add bonito flakes into the water, let it sink to the bottom for 10-15 minutes.
  • Strain dashi with a kitchen towel on the bottom of strainer, set a side. (see Nami from Just One Cookbook : how to make dashi in 3 ways)

  • In a non-stick pan, saute onion with butter and canola oil until fragrant and translute.
  • Stir in potato, saute for a second, add dashi, simmer in medium heat until the potato is tender, remove from heat, tranfter into blender.

  • Process with the kabocha until smooth.

  • Tranfer again to the pan, in a low heat - add the miso paste, stir well. (less the miso paste if you want the flavor of the soup not too strong)
  • Add cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne paper, stir, taste.

  • Add fresh milk, stir, turn of the heat.
  • Serve hot with garlic bread and chives on top.
  • Enjoy! ;)



Have this pumpkin soup before you start your breakfast or as a dinner, this hot and healthy soup will defenitely cheer up your day - well... works for me, even my son have 2 serving of it in the first time he taste the soup, after that he often craving for it!

A healthier way and a good way to enjoy your pumpkin and rainy-autumn season... who will resist? ;)



Stay Healthy & Loves your Kitchen More! :)




Difficulty : easy
Cooking Time : < 30 minutes
Makes : 4 serving 
Adopted from : Healthy Express cookbook, by Edwin Lau

30 comments:

  1. What a great idea! You took the traditional soup and turned it around! I'd have to skip the bonito flakes, but the rest sounds delicious!

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  2. Beautiful pumpkin color soup! Miso and katsuobushi! Wow this soup has nice umami in there! I used to love fall/winter and it's been my favorite season until I hit maybe 30..then after that cold and rainy weather is just too painful for my body. LOL. Am I talking like grandma? Hehee

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  3. @Ann
    Tq ann!
    you can replace the dashi with chicken stock or vegetable stock, give it a try ;)

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  4. @Nami
    Tq nami!
    My son doesn't like "regular" or sweet pumpkin soup, but at the time I made this he just fall in love as the same as I'm :)
    Ohh... the truth is I'm often have a pain my my leg if the weather too cold of rainy everyday... but what to do when I just so in love with the weather and atmosfer? :D

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  5. This soup looks so inviting, love the colors! Glad you brought out a healthier version of this soup, nice list of ingredients. Now I am wondering where I can find high calcium low fat milk-sounds like something I want to keep around!

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  6. frankly speaking, I never try pumpkin soup. Yours make me wanna try it once :)) but I don't know if I can access bonito flake to make dashi here.. any substitute sugestion dear?

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  7. @Citra
    hi citra... of coz, u can use light chicken stock or vegetable stock, if u use chicken stock I think you have to use the light one or u can insert half part of water on the chicken stock so the chicken stock flavor won't cover the light flavor of miso paste in the soup :)

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  8. @Tina
    Hi tina, tq dear :)
    you can try to find it a local supermarket I guess, not too hard to find, I use "Greenfields" fresh milk :)

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  9. @Giulietta
    Tq Giulietta! It is :D , give it a try! ;)

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  10. I just make a similar soup with butternut squash. Really like the idea of using pumpkin instead. Can't wait to try this recipe.

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  11. I have never heard of pumpkin soup with miso. Nice touch Ellies. Looks great and bet it tasted even better. perfect for the rainy day we're dealing with

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  12. I loooove pumpkin soup, but never thought of using miso. Looks and sounds absolutely delicious!!

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  13. Such a beautiful soup...who could resist that brilliant color and all the lovely garnishes? It looks fabulous!

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  14. Wow pumkin soup,looks delicious,Yum,,,Yum,,great colour ready for halowen??
    Ridwan

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  15. As much as we love summer we do have to admit that fall has an undeniable romance... the warmth of a fire on a cool evening, and all those warm and comforting foods. Your soup looks so yummy. We'll have to find a kabocha and enjoy this recipe as you made it.

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  16. The color of pumpkin is always so bright and sunny so is your bowl of soup!

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  17. Wow that is gorgeous! I'll take a bowl of that...or two! :)

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  18. hy, chanced upon your space while blog hopping...
    love your space..
    awesome posts with nice presentation.
    soup sounds totally impressive with flavors..

    Am your happy follower now..;)
    do stop by mine sometime..
    Tasty Appetite

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  19. I love this fusion! This sounds like a tasty fall soup =)

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  20. @Peggy
    Tq dear :)
    we do need a tasty soup for a lovely fall didn't we? ;)

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  21. @Jay
    Hi jay... nice to meet u and tq for stopping by at my blog and following :)
    Glad u like the post! ;)

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  22. @Kate
    Tq kate!
    Oh same here... I'm take 2 bowl each time! ;)

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  23. @Quay Po
    yes, fall always bring the yellow oranges lovely color, even I not a big fan of those color but still loves fall atmospheres and the food :)

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  24. @Cherryl
    Tq cherryl!
    Yes fall always bring the romantic things... almost all of things that "Acompany" the fall autumn season always have a romantic site... even the color :)
    Tq for ur kind comment and hope u find the kabocha and enjoy the soup with glad ;)

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  25. @Ridwan
    Hi ridwan! Tq! :)
    Oh I'm not celebrating hollowen... I' celebrating the romantic autumn!! ;)

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  26. @Lizzy
    Tq Lizzy!
    the garnish did a good work to giving a nice touch of color, presentation and Taste! ;)

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  27. @Becka @the elegant eggplant
    Hi becka! Tq for stopping by and ur kind comment... nice to meet u :)
    glad that u loves pumpkin soup too, the idea of miso is from the cookbook that the recipe I adapted , but I do loves miso paste and often use it in the kitchen
    hope u enjoy this pumpkin soup as I do ;)

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  28. @Roxana
    Hi roxana.. tq! :)
    the idea of using miso paste is from the cookbook, I just less ht green onion and add a potato and cayenne paper to the soup to add a western touch... and yes this warm and hot soup is one that we need for this rainy and windy way :)

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  29. @eating deliciously
    hope u will enjoy this pumpkin soup too and tq for stopping by and ur kind comment...
    nice to know u! ;)

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Tq for yout visit - your kind comment & positive feedbaback makes me happy ;)