Pumpkin cream soup with watercress

Pumpkin Cream Soup with Crescun - A Healthy and Comforting Delicacy

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4-6

In a world full of quick and easy recipes, pumpkin cream soup with crescun stands out with its unique charm. This combination of ingredients not only offers an explosion of flavors but also a vibrant palette of colors, transforming a simple meal into a gastronomic experience. Besides its visual appeal, pumpkin is rich in vitamins and minerals, has antioxidant properties, and is low in calories. It is a perfect dish for cool autumn evenings or for a healthy meal any time of the year.

Necessary ingredients:

- 1 piece of red pumpkin (bostan or ludaie)
- 2 medium potatoes
- 1 leek
- 1 carrot
- 1/2 red or green bell pepper
- 1/2 cube of Knorr soup (chicken or vegetable)
- Salt, pepper, olive oil
- A bunch of crescun
- Bread croutons (optional)

Preparing the soup:

1. Preparing the ingredients: Start by peeling and cutting the pumpkin into large cubes. This will add a creamy texture and natural sweetness to your soup. Cut the potatoes into medium cubes and the carrot into thin rounds. Slice the leek and chop the bell pepper into suitable pieces. Don’t forget to wash the crescun very well to remove any impurities.

2. Sautéing the vegetables: In a large pot, add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil and heat it over medium heat. Add the sliced leek and let it sauté gently until it softens. This step is essential to give the soup a special flavor.

3. Adding the vegetables: Once the leek has softened, add the remaining chopped vegetables (pumpkin, potatoes, carrot, and bell pepper) to the pot. Also add some of the crescun, leaving a few leaves for decoration at the end. Mix everything and let the vegetables sauté together for about 5 minutes.

4. Boiling the vegetables: Pour boiling water over the vegetables, enough to cover them. Don’t add too much water, as we want a creamier soup. Add salt and the Knorr soup cube. Cover the pot with a lid and let the vegetables boil over medium heat until they are completely soft, about 20 minutes.

5. Blending into a cream: After the vegetables are cooked, remove the pot from heat and use an immersion blender to blend the soup until it becomes a fine cream. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender, being careful to let the soup cool slightly before transferring it to the blender.

6. Adding the crescun: Put the cream soup back on low heat and add the remaining crescun, letting it simmer with the soup for a few minutes until the leaves become tender but remain intact. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking.

7. Serving: Finally, drizzle a little olive oil over the soup for added flavor. Serve the soup warm, garnished with fresh crescun leaves and, optionally, with crunchy bread croutons for added texture.

Useful tips:

- Ingredient variations: You can experiment with other vegetables, such as celery or beetroot, to add a different note to your soup. You can also replace crescun with fresh basil or parsley for a different flavor.
- Calories and nutritional benefits: This pumpkin cream soup is low in calories, with about 150 calories per serving. Pumpkin is rich in vitamins A, C, potassium, and antioxidants, contributing to skin health and the immune system.
- Frequently asked questions:
- Can the soup be frozen? Yes, the soup can be frozen without any problems. Make sure to let it cool completely before storing it in airtight containers.
- Can I use canned pumpkin? While fresh pumpkin offers a better texture and taste, you can use canned pumpkin in emergencies, just be sure to adjust the cooking time.

Serving suggestions: This pumpkin cream soup pairs perfectly with a fresh green salad or a warm cheese sandwich. You can also enjoy a glass of dry white wine or herbal tea to complete the culinary experience.

Discover the joy of cooking and enrich your meal with this pumpkin cream soup with crescun, full of vitamins and flavors! Whether you prepare it for a family dinner or a special occasion, this recipe is sure to bring smiles to the faces of your loved ones. Don’t forget to share the final result with us!