Today I woke up to cold winds warning of the winter ahead. It’s not that I don’t enjoy certain aspects of the colder months but living in New York City, there is definitely a deep breath of preparation on that first truly brisk day…

I, like many others, focus on cooking when it’s cold as a way to enjoy being predominantly indoors… So as I prepare my Thanksgiving menu, this simple yet delicious pumpkin soup was well worth sharing…

1 Melt butter in a large, thick-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until softened, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and ginger, cook another minute.

Add the curry powder, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and salt. Cook for another 2 minutes.

2 Add the chicken stock and the bay leaves. Add the pumpkin purée. Stir to combine. If the soup is too thick for your liking, add more stock or water to thin it.

Increase heat to high. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

3 Remove bay leaves. Use a blender to purée the soup.

4 Right before serving, stir in the cream. Add black pepper and adjust seasonings to taste. Add more salt if necessary.

Drizzle with plain yogurt that has been thinned with a little water and sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds to serve.
Ingredients

1 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups roughly chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced, peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons yellow curry powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Small pinch of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of kosher salt plus more to taste
4 cups chicken stock (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
2 bay leaves
2 (15 oz) cans 100 percent pumpkin or 3 1/2 cups of chopped roasted pumpkin purée*
3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Yogurt (for garnish)
Toasted pumpkin seeds (for garnish)

a simply beautiful and spicy pumpkin soup