Pumpkin Soup with sweet potatoes & coconut milk

(Serves 6-8)

Ingredients

4 cups pumpkin, cooked and puréed 

1 large sweet potato, cooked and peeled

3 large carrots, peeled and sliced

2 large onions, chopped

¼ cup olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/8 tsp black pepper

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp ground ginger

4 cups chicken stock (variation: substitute ½ cup white wine or 1 cup apple juice)

1x or 2x 400ml cans coconut milk

In a large saucepan, sauté onions 5 minutes, add carrots.  Add stock, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, ginger, salt, pepper, and bring to a boil.  Add coconut milk and simmer 20-30 minutes (add additional stock if required).  Remove from heat and purée with an immersion blender.  If desired, serve with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and some chopped parsley and/or chopped green onion.

Indian Style Creamed Spinach

 Serves four as a side or two as the main.

INGREDIENTS

13.5oz. can full-fat coconut milk

8 oz. fresh spinach (next time I'd double the spinach)

1 yellow onion

2 cloves garlic

1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp turmeric

pinch cayenne pepper

1 large tomato

1/4 cup water

3/4 tsp salt (or to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS 

Add the coconut milk and spinach to a large pot. Stir and cook over medium heat until the coconut milk is warmed through and has wilted the spinach. Remove from the heat as soon as the spinach has wilted to avoid over-cooking the spinach.

Using a hand blender, lightly blend the warm coconut milk and spinach until it is in small pieces (you can choose to blend until smooth, if you prefer). Set this mixture aside.

Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and grate the ginger. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger to a large skillet along with the olive oil. Sauté over medium heat until the onions are soft (about 5 minutes).

Add the cumin, garam masala, turmeric, and cayenne to the skillet. Stir and cook the spices with the onion, garlic, and ginger for about two minutes more.

Dice the tomato and add it to the skillet along with about 1/4 cup water. Stir and cook the tomato with the other ingredients, dissolving any browned bits off the bottom of the skillet, until the tomato has broken down (5-8 minutes).

Finally, add the coconut and spinach mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. Allow the mixture to heat through, stirring occasionally.

Taste the creamed spinach and add salt to taste. Start with 1/4 tsp, adding more as needed until the flavors pop (I added 3/4 tsp).

from: https://www.budgetbytes.com/indian-style-creamed-spinach

Thai Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup

(Serves 4-6)

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic

1 Tbsp ginger paste

1 Tbsp Thai red curry paste (or to taste)

2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

4 cups vegetable stock

1 can (400ml) coconut milk, divided

Pinch dried cilantro or other garnish

Salt & pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large saucepan.  Sauté onions 5-7 minutes, add garlic, ginger and curry paste, and cook gently until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add sweet potatoes and stir to coat.  Add stock and bring to a boil, adding salt and pepper if stock is unseasoned.

Cook approximately 20 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender.  Purée. Add water if mixture is too thick. Add ½ can of coconut milk (whisk before dividing to ensure both halves are consistent) and cook five more minutes. Adjust seasoning. (I have added cooked, chopped chicken at this point.)

Serve in wide soup bowls and drizzle each decoratively with remaining coconut milk and pinch of cilantro or basil.