Aromatic pumpkin soup for Halloween

   I must tell you that I'm not particularly found of the Halloween "tradition" that has been growing  here in Lisbon for the last years, but the fact is that with the arrival  of the day, my daughter’s euphoria grows and,  when there are children, the best we can do is to surrender ourselves to surrounding atmosphere.

    Trying to make the most of this atmosphere, I thought that cooking dishes using pumpkins would be the most appropriate and so I came up with this pumpkin and turmeric soup, which resulted particularly rich in aromas and in unique qualities gathered in a simple soup. Turmeric is one of the roots that I most use in my dishes: either raw, in juices, for teas or cooked in a variety of ways. My preference for this Asian ingredient is due to its aromatic flavor and especially to its  medicinal properties, such as being a cancer prevention agent, detoxifying, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and an excellent natural painkiller.

    In the fridge I always have fresh turmeric root that I usually buy at a local biological supermarket here in Lisbon but you can also buy it in Indian food stores.

    And as the "night of the monsters" can also be celebrated with a beautiful and healthy dish, my suggestion is this comfort soup.

ingredients:

(serves 5​​)

1 kg  pumpkin

400 gr pumpkin for roasting + parsley + salt + olive oil

1 onion

3 tbsp olive oil

2 turmeric roots

1 liter water + 300 ml

salt to taste

cumin Seeds

Preheat oven to 200º

Cut 400gr pumpkin, unpeeled, into thin slices and place on a tray.

Sprinkle with salt and bake for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, remove it from the oven and add chopped parsley and olive oil to taste.

Put it back in the oven for 10 minutes more.

* This cooking time may differ according to the thickness and quality of the pumpkin, so it is best to have this time as a reference only.

Meanwhile:

Chop the onion and sauté in olive oil.

Add the turmeric root, peeled and cut into slices.

Add the pumpkin, unpeeled and cut into small pieces.

Combine well.

Add the water and add salt to taste.

Cook until soft.

Turn off the heat and blend.

Check the salt.

Lightly toast the cumin seeds.

Serve and garnish the soup with the roasted pumpkin and the cumin seeds.

Bon appétit!

© veggie delicious food, October  2014

Typical Portuguese starters

  

     The spirit of traditional Portuguese cuisine can also be present in a vegetarian dinner, especially when you gather a group of friends where the only vegetarians are the hosts.

  Keeping this idea of ​​typical food adapted to vegetarian alternatives I chose some of the most  precious Portuguese ingredients such as olive oil, garlic, olives and chorizo which I used to prepare several starters, to go with  by a delicious bread, baked in a wood oven.

  The diversity of flavors helped to create a warmy and cozy environment around a good Portuguese table – a vegetarian one, of course!

Ingredients:

(serves 4/5)

1. Starter with olives:

15 to 20 Black olives

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1/4 cup of olive oil

1 + 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp oregano

2. Starter with radishes:

8 radishes cut into thin slices

1/4 cup of olive oil

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1/2 tsp pepper

2 tbsp soy sauce

chopped parsley according to taste

3. Starter with chorizo​​:

1 spit for sausages

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1 portuguese soy chorizo ​​

 basil leaves

1/2 garlic clove, finely chopped + 2 tbsp olive oil + 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1. Wash the olives.

Mix the olive oil with the  balsamic vinegar. Add the oregano and then the olives. Let it stand for  20 minutes before serving.

2. Wash the radishes and cut them into very thin slices.

Mix the olive oil with the soy sauce, pepper, garlic and parsley.

Add the radishes and let them stand for 20 minutes before serving.

3. Cook the soy chorizo in the spit. Turn it for several times until nicely roasted.

Remove the skin and cut it into slices.

Garnish each slice with a basil leaf and season with chopped garlic, olive oil and vinegar.

 Bon appétit!

© veggie delicious food, October  2014