How to make eye spy pumpkin soup

This is my recipe for a baked pumpkin soup made with rosemary, almonds and cumin. A hearty, warming soup given a special twist for Halloween :)

70
STEPS
INGREDIENTS

Gather your ingredients and get peeling before nightfall! (You only need a piece of pumpkin but I couldn't resist keeping it whole for this shot!)

Gather your ingredients and get peeling before nightfall! (You only need a piece of pumpkin but I couldn't resist keeping it whole for this shot!)

Chop and peel your pumpkin. Don't chuck away the seeds-they're good for you and this is my recipe for a yummy topping or snack!

Chop and peel your pumpkin. Don't chuck away the seeds-they're good for you and this is my recipe for a yummy topping or snack!

Wash seeds under running water and remove any membrane.

Wash seeds under running water and remove any membrane.

Add freshly chopped rosemary, crushed pink pepper corns and sea salt and mix together. Roast for about 15 minutes. Add almonds and bake until golden brown and crisp to the bite. Set to one side.

Add freshly chopped rosemary, crushed pink pepper corns and sea salt and mix together. Roast for about 15 minutes. Add almonds and bake until golden brown and crisp to the bite. Set to one side.

Meanwhile peel, wash and chop all your veg and garlic into medium sized chunks.

Meanwhile peel, wash and chop all your veg and garlic into medium sized chunks.

Toss pumpkin in a little olive oil, add rosemary and salt and place in oven proof dish. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft and nicely browned. (My oven is a slow range!)

Toss pumpkin in a little olive oil, add rosemary and salt and place in oven proof dish. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft and nicely browned. (My oven is a slow range!)

Whilst pumpkin baking, heat a tablespoon olive oil in a large pot. Add rest of veg  and stir for a few minutes to brown lightly. Take care not to  burn base.

Whilst pumpkin baking, heat a tablespoon olive oil in a large pot. Add rest of veg and stir for a few minutes to brown lightly. Take care not to burn base.

Add garlic, cumin, nutmeg and rest of almonds and fry together for a further minute before adding hot vegetable stock. Your kitchen will now smell wonderful!

Add garlic, cumin, nutmeg and rest of almonds and fry together for a further minute before adding hot vegetable stock. Your kitchen will now smell wonderful!

Check pumpkin and once baked, remove from oven and add to the soup.

Check pumpkin and once baked, remove from oven and add to the soup.

Cook on moderate heat until vegetables have cooked.

Cook on moderate heat until vegetables have cooked.

Your soup should be now be ready for liquidising. Take care you don't get covered in burning liquid by blitzing without precaution. (I use a special lid with a hole in centre so I don't get splashed!)

Your soup should be now be ready for liquidising. Take care you don't get covered in burning liquid by blitzing without precaution. (I use a special lid with a hole in centre so I don't get splashed!)

You should now have a  scrumptious soup! But if it's not a treat but a trick you want  to serve your guests this Halloween.....

You should now have a scrumptious soup! But if it's not a treat but a trick you want to serve your guests this Halloween.....

Follow me down to the cellar if you dare....

Follow me down to the cellar if you dare....

Dare you look under the lid?

Dare you look under the lid?

Boo!

Boo!

To make a  gruesome eyeball is easy. You need half a mini mozzarella ball, I green stoned olive, black edible gel, tomato pur\u00e9e and a very sharp knife.

To make a gruesome eyeball is easy. You need half a mini mozzarella ball, I green stoned olive, black edible gel, tomato purée and a very sharp knife.

Slice a mozzarella ball in half

Slice a mozzarella ball in half

Slice a thin piece of olive for the iris and place in centre of cheese (the rounded top)

Slice a thin piece of olive for the iris and place in centre of cheese (the rounded top)

Now squirt a little black food gel in centre for the pupil.

Now squirt a little black food gel in centre for the pupil.

Not bad but not gruesome enough yet...

Not bad but not gruesome enough yet...

Use tomato pur\u00e9e to make the eye look bloodshot.

Use tomato purée to make the eye look bloodshot.

Better?

Better?

Gently lower the eye onto the surface of the soup.

Gently lower the eye onto the surface of the soup.

Cover with lid and serve to your unsuspecting guests!   Happy Halloween :)

Cover with lid and serve to your unsuspecting guests! Happy Halloween :)

  • 800.0g Pumpkin
  • 1.0 Large potato
  • 1.0 Sweet potato
  • 1.0 Small Onion
  • 1.0 Leek
  • 1.0 Garlic clove
  • 2.0Tbsp Peeled, Sliced Almonds
  • 2.0 Sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2.0tsp Ground cumin seeds
  • 1.0tsp Nutmeg
  • 1.0Tbsp Pink pepper corns
  • Sea salt
  • 2.0 Green olives (for Halloween garnish)
  • 5.0 Mini mozzarella balls (for garnish)
  • 1.0tsp Tomato purée or red food gel (for garnish)
  • 1.0tsp Black food gel (for garnish)