Pumpkin and broccoli chowder

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
4tablespoonsButter or mild vegetable oil
1largeOnion, chopped
1tablespoonTamari or shoyu soy sauce
1Ripe tomato, diced, peel if you like
4cupsChicken stock
4cupsFresh pumpkin or butternut squash puree; or use canned
1tablespoonMaple syrup or honey
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1bunchBroccoli, tops cut into small flowerets, stems julienned into strips 1/4x1\"
½cupHeavy (whipping) cream

Directions

(From "Soup and Bread: A Country Inn Cookbook" by Crescent Dragonwagon. Workman Publishing; $12.95) In a 10" skillet, melt the butter or heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and saute slowly until almost limp but not brown, about 6-7 minutes. Add the tamari or soy sauce and the tomato. Cook, stirring often, until the tomato's juice has evaporated, about 6 minutes.

Transfer the saute to a soup pot. Deglaze the saute pan with a little of the stock, and add the pan contents, plus the remainder of the stock to the soup pot. Add the pumpkin or squash puree, the maple syrup or honey, salt and a touch of freshly ground black pepper.

Heat, stirring often.

Separately, in a small pot with a tightly fitting lid, steam the broccoli flowerets and stems until tender-crisp (they should be a bright green), about 3-4 minutes.

Stir the steamed broccoli into the soup, then stir in the cream. Let the soup cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot and the flavors have blended, 8-10 minutes.