Chef-No-Tell

Hot-and-Sour Pumpkin Soup

Prep: 20 min | Cook: 60 min | Servings: 6

Recipe courtesy Gourmet Magazine. Serves 6 to 8. Cooks' note: soup can be made 2 days ahead and cooled, uncovered, then chilled, covered.

Ingredients

  • 1 Onion , large, coarsely chopped
  • 1 tbsp Garlic , chopped
  • 1 tbsp Ginger , fresh, peeled and chopped
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable oil , divided
  • 3 lb Pumpkin , sugar or cheese pumpkin, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
  • 1 cup White wine , dry
  • 2 qt Chicken Stock , or 1 quart canned chicken broth and 1 quart water
  • 6 stalk Lemongrass , bottom 5 inches only, coarsely chopped
  • 1 Galangal , 1-inch piece (thawed if frozen), peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 3 Chili pepper , Thai, 3 to 5 fresh 1 1/2-inch, or 2 fresh jalapenos; trimmed and coarsely chopped (seeded for milder flavor)
  • 4 Kaffir lime leaf , fresh or frozen
  • 0.33 cup Lime juice , fresh
  • 0.25 cup Fish sauce , Asian
  • 1 tbsp Sugar
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Pumpkin seed , toasted; for garnish

Directions

Cook onion, garlic, and ginger in 1 tablespoon oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 4 minutes. Add the pumpkin and wine, and boil, uncovered, until wine is reduced by about half, about 5 minutes. Stir in stock and simmer, covered, until pumpkin is tender, about 20 minutes.

Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute lemongrass, galangal, and chiles to taste, stirring, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Puree pumpkin mixture in batches (use caution when blending hot liquids) and return to pot. Stir in lemongrass mixture, lime leaves, lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

Pour soup through a sieve, discarding solids, and season well with salt and pepper. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds.