White Pumpkin Soup

Recipe by: Christopher Idone | from New Glorious American Food

Cookstr

Course: Hot Appetizer, Main Course

Total Time: Under 2 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

Photo by: Joey De Leo

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

INGREDIENTS

1 large white pumpkin or orange pumpkin (5 to 6 pounds)
1 small orange pumpkin
2½ quarts Chicken Stock
1 whole chicken breast
½ pound fresh speckled butter beans, fava beans, or lima beans, shelled
6 fresh cornichons, halved, or 1 small Kirby cucumber, cut into 2-inch julienne
8 ears baby sweet corn, husked
1 medium-size hot red frying pepper-stemmed, seeded, deveined, and cut into julienne
1 small yellow bell pepper-stemmed, seeded, deveined, and cut into julienne
1 ripe yellow tomato-peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped with juices reserved
1 ripe red tomato-peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped with juices reserved
3 scallions, including some of the green, cut into 2-inch julienne
1 medium-firm ripe peach, peeled and cut into eighths
3 Seckle pears, thinly sliced
3 fresh figs, cut into ¼ inch slices
Salt and freshly milled black pepper

Directions

The tureen: Cut a round “lid” in the top of the large pumpkin. The stem will serve as the “handle.” Scoop out the seeds and loose fiber. Return the “lid” and set aside.

The soup: Seed the smaller pumpkin and dice the flesh into ½-inch cubes. Measure out 1 cup of flesh and reserve the remainder for another use. Remove the outer skin; reserve. In a large kettle, bring 1 quart of the chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat, add the chicken breast and simmer until cooked through. Removed with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool.

When cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones and shred the meat. Skim off any foam from the top of the stock. Bring the stock back to a mild boil and cook the butter beans until almost tender. Remove the beans with a slotted spoon and reserve. Bring the stock back to a mild boil and cook the butter beans until almost tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.

Pour the remaining ½ quart chicken stock into a large pot. Strain the poaching stock through a fine mesh sieve into the large pot of stock. Bring the stock to a light boil and add the cornichons, baby corn, peppers, and tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add the scallions, the reserved beans, pumpkin, fruits, and shredded chicken and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.

Check for seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the soup into the pumpkin tureen and serve.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information is based on 8 servings, and includes 1/8 teaspoon of added salt per serving.

Calories 402kcal (20%)

Calcium 108mg (11%)

Vitamin C 100mg (167%)

Vitamin A 1133mcg RAE (38%)

Potassium 1999mg

Magnesium 112mg

Protein 23g

Sugar 26g