This 80 degree weather is throwing me off! Last week, it was crisp, cool, and quickly becoming Fall- and I was craving warm, hearty soups. So, this week, I went to the store and stocked up on chicken stock…and lots of veggies to play around with some new soup ideas. Even though it is 80 degrees and I could basically be a wearing bathing suit outside, I have thoroughly enjoyed making these new soups.
My favorite soup concoction was pretty surprising…Gavin hailed it “the best soup he has ever eaten” and I ate like 4 bowls in a day! I already went back to the store to get more of the ingredients to make a big- freezer ready batch to last us through the cold months! I say all of this so that you will keep an open mind. The ingredients might sound a little funny together- but just trust me, they work!
The rich creaminess that the pumpkin brings balances so well with the spicy pablano pepper and sweet, slightly tangy apple. All of the Fall spices make the soup taste rich and bold- while still being incredibly healthy.
Pumpkin Apple Stew
serves 4
1 medium pie pumpkin (Trader Joes sells these, you can use 1 can of pumpkin puree if you can’t find a pie pumpkin), seeded, skinned and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 pablano pepper, diced
1 large Fuji apple, chopped
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 large chicken breasts, chopped
4 C chicken stock
1 t salt
1/4 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground cumin
1 t chipotle powder
1 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
1 T brown sugar
In a large pot, over medium heat, sauté with pumpkin, onion, pablano and apple until the onion starts to become translucent. Next, add the chicken and 1/2 of the salt and cook for about 3 minutes. Now, pour in the broth and all of the spics and mix well. Allow the soup to come up to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, cover it, and let it cook for up to 3 hours. The longer it cooks, the more the chicken will fall apart, the pumpkin will be creamy, and you will get a thicker consistency.
I served it with toasted pumpkin seeds. A grilled cheese with parmesan, and cheddar would be a lovely addition as well!
You can freeze it in serving sized batches for easy lunches and dinners.
