Pumpkin Soup with Grilled Chicken Bruschetta

Sara

From The Brigantine

ingredients

Soup

1 medium pumpkin (about 3 lbs), halved and seeded
3 T sweet butter
1 c onion, diced
1/2 t nutmeg, freshly ground
6 c rich chicken stock
1 c light cream or half and half
Salt and White pepper to taste

Bruschetta

8 slices ciabatta bread, toasted
5 oz grilled chicken breast, diced
2 T dried cranberries, chopped
2 T scallions, chopped
2 T slivered almonds, toasted
2 T goat cheese, crumbled
1 t parsley, chopped salt and pepper to taste

directions

Soup

1
1. Preheat the oven to 300°.
2
2. Split the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds.
3
3. Place the pumpkin cut side down on an oiled baking pan.
4
4. Bake the pumpkin in a 300° oven for 1 hr. or until the skin is soft and wrinkled and the cut edges are beginning to caramelize.
5
5. Remove from the oven and cool enough to handle.
6
6. Mash cooked pumpkin with a potato masher or a ricer.
7
7. Melt the butter in a 4 qt. sauce pan or stock pot.
8
8. Add onion and saute until translucent.
9
9. Add the cooked pumpkin, nutmeg and the stock.
10
10. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 min.
11
11. Add cream and bring to a boil. Adjust seasoning and reduce heat to keep warm while making the bruschetta.

Bruschetta

1
1. Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper and frill to 180° internal temp. or until the juices run clear. Let cool and dice.
2
2. Toast the almonds and chop the scallions and parsley.
3
3. Mix all ingredients together and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
4
4. Slice and toast ciabatta bread in the toaster.
5
5. Top slices of ciabatta with bruschetta mixture.
6
6. Ladle soup in to a warm soup plate and top with bruschetta.
7
7. As an option you can drizzle the surface of the soup with a little extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.

notes

If soup is too thick, thin with a chicken stock. If too thin add a little cream. For a completely Vegan soup, you may substitute vegetable stock for chicken stock, olive oil for the butter, soy milk for the half and half, and grilled tofu for chicken

Source: Sara