Pumpkin soup

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil 
• 2  onion finely chopped
• 1 kg kabocha squash peeled deseeded chopped (try kabocha)
• 700 ml vegetable stock 
• 150 ml double cream 
• 4 slices bread seeded
• 1 handful pumpkin seeds 

Equipment

• frying pan
• sauce pan
• sieve
• immersion blender

Directions

1. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan, then gently cook 2 finely chopped onions for 5 mins, until soft but not coloured.
2. Add 1kg pumpkin or squash, cut into chunks, to the pan, then carry on cooking for 8-10 mins, stirring occasionally until it starts to soften and turn golden.
3. Pour 700ml vegetable or chicken stock into the pan and season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins until the squash is very soft.
4. Pour 150ml double cream into the pan, bring back to the boil, then pure with a hand blender. For an extra-velvety consistency you can pour the soup through a fine sieve. The soup can now be frozen for up to 2 months.
5. To make the croutons: cut 4 slices wholemeal seeded bread into small squares.
6. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan, then fry the bread until it starts to become crisp.
7. Add a handful of pumpkin seeds to the pan, then cook for a few mins more until they are toasted. These can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container.
8. Reheat the soup if needed, taste for seasoning, then serve scattered with croutons and seeds and drizzled with more olive oil, if you want.