Curried Pumpkin and Banana Soup

I love it when an ill-planned recipe results in deliciousness. I was making my aunt's curried pumpkin soup when I realised, at the moment I was supposed to add it, that I had no apple. I didn't have much in the way of fruit except some frozen berries and a large banana that was lazying about in the twilight of its life. Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), I chose the banana as berries would just be weird.

Well! What a delightful delicious potentially kid-likable winner recipe! Not wanting to risk sharing a recipe that was a one hit wonder I made it again today and I'm equally impressed.

Ingredients

• Half a large Kent pumpkin, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• Two sticks of celery, chopped
• Two medium carrots, chopped
• 1 parsnip, chopped
• 1 large or two small browning bananas
• 1 tbsp (or to taste) curry powder
• 1 heaped tsp (or to taste) vegetable stock powder
• Olive oil
• Water

Putting it together

1. In a large pot, brown off the onion in some olive oil
2. Add the chopped carrot and celery and cook for about three minutes
3. Add the chopped pumpkin and parsnip, the stock powder and cover with water. 
4. Bring to the boil then lower the temperature to a simmer. Cook until everything is soft (I often forget about it which luckily doesn't affect the success of the soup).
5. Add the banana and curry powder and cook for a further five or so minutes.
6. When the kitchen (and your house) fills with the smell of sweet banana curry it's time to blend the soup. Of course as I have one I use a vitamix but it would probably be easier to use a stick blender. 
7. That's it! Serve it up.
   

Results

This is so easy to do and the taste is seriously yummy. For the sweet tooth this is a dream. Depending on how much curry you add it could be a winner with the kids too due to it's almost desserty type flavour. With the full tablespoon of curry powder mine was probably a little too spicy for my nephews but with some training they could like it a little hot.

Verdict

This is now my favourite pumpkin soup recipe. It's near impossible to get wrong so it would be a great one to make with the kids. It does freeze but it looks a little different after defrosting. However the taste is unaffected. Oh, and the curry flavours develop if you eat it the day after you make it. Enjoy!