Don’t discard your Halloween pumpkin flesh; transform it into a nutritious, soul-warming soup. Packed with fiber and nutrients like iron and vitamin B6, this velvety delight is perfect for chilly trick-or-treaters.

Ingredients:

• 50g butter
• 1 chopped onion
• 1kg diced pumpkin/butternut squash
• 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 900ml vegetable stock
• 3 tbsp cream cheese

Instructions:

Step 1:

1. Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat.
2. Add onion and fry until softened. Then, add pumpkin/squash and cook for 5 minutes.

Step 2:

1. Add garlic and the bay leaf, then pour in the vegetable stock.

Step 3:

1. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft.

Step 4:

1. Remove the bay leaf and stir in the cream cheese. Blend until smooth with a hand blender.

Step 5:

1. Season with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls, and serve with a cream cheese swirl (or spider’s web) and warm crusty bread.