Name: Clam Pumpkin Soup with an Ancho Floater
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Ingredients: 1 Small Sugar Pumpkin Pumpkin Clam Soup; 3 Large Onions Pumpkin Clam Soup; 4 Strips Bacon Pumpkin Clam Soup; 2 Large Carrots Pumpkin Clam Soup; 2 Celery Stalks Pumpkin Clam Soup; 1 Clove Garlic Pumpkin Clam Soup; 2 Quarts Chicken Stock Pumpkin Clam Soup; 20 Clams Pumpkin Clam Soup; Salt and Pepper Pumpkin Clam Soup; 6 Dried Ancho Chiles Ancho Floater; 1 Clove Garlic Ancho Floater; 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce Ancho Floater; 2 Teaspoons Paprika Ancho Floater; 1 Quart Chicken Stock Ancho Floater; 1 Cup Cream Ancho Floater; Salt and Pepper Ancho Floater

The idea for this one came from the type of shots where you float one alcohol on top of the other. I thought it would be fun to do with soups and this was the flavor combo I happened to be craving that day. The soups went great together. A nice sweet simple pumpkin soup with that extra sweetness from the caramelized onion was a great contrast to the sharp spice of the ancho floater.

First I cooked the pumpkin seeds as a crunchy topper.

Lots of onions with a little bacon.

Get the onions really really browned before adding the carrot and celery.

Chicken stock in. You can see the anchos steeping in the background. They just get blended up smooth.

Simmer off the pumpkin until it is nice and tender.

Blended nice and smooth. Then cook the clams right in there.

Pumpkin soup down, then spoon the ancho floater on top. Pop a couple clams in there and top with the pumpkin seeds.

Very savory soup with a nice ocean flavor from the clams. The sweet pumpkin soup perfectly offset the spicy ancho.

Soup
1 sugar pumpkin
3 large onions
4 strips bacon
2 large carrots
2 celery stalks
1 clove garlic
3 quarts chicken stock
20 clams
salt and pepper

Dice up the pumpkin, chop all the ingredients. Saute the onion with the bacon and some olive oil until the onion becomes very browned, about a half hour. Add in the carrot and celery and cook about 10 more minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin and the stock and simmer for a half hour or until the pumpkin is tender. Blend with a stick blender until smooth. Bring to a simmer and just before serving, drop in the clams. Cook for about 5 minutes until the clams fully open.

Ancho Floater
6 ancho chiles
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons worcestershire
1 tablespoon paprika
1 qt chicken stock
1 cup cream
salt and pepper

Remove the stems and seeds from the chiles. Add everything but the cream to a pot and bring to a simmer. remove from heat and allow to steep for about a half hour. Puree with a stick blender. Stir in the cream. If it isn’t quite smooth, blend it again. Serve the pumpkin soup and spoon the ancho on top. Top with cooked pumpkin seeds.

Ingredients

1 Small Sugar Pumpkin
3 Large Onions
4 Strips Bacon
2 Large Carrots
2 Celery Stalks
1 Clove Garlic
2 Quarts Chicken Stock
20 Clams
Salt and Pepper
6 Dried Ancho Chiles
1 Clove Garlic
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 Teaspoons Paprika
1 Quart Chicken Stock
1 Cup Cream
Salt and Pepper

For: 6

Preparation: 15 min
Cooking: 1 h
Ready in: 1 h 15 min

Instructions

Dice up the pumpkin, chop all the ingredients. Saute the onion with the bacon and some olive oil until the onion becomes very browned, about a half hour. Add in the carrot and celery and cook about 10 more minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin and the stock and simmer for a half hour or until the pumpkin is tender. Blend with a stick blender until smooth. Bring to a simmer and just before serving, drop in the clams. Cook for about 5 minutes until the clams fully open.
Remove the stems and seeds from the chiles. Add everything but the cream to a pot and bring to a simmer. remove from heat and allow to steep for about a half hour. Puree with a stick blender. Stir in the cream. If it isn't quite smooth, blend it again. Serve the pumpkin soup and spoon the ancho on top. Top with cooked pumpkin seeds.

Notes