Asian vegetables - making spicy japanese pumpkin soup - print version

L a n d L e a r n : Asian vegetables - making spicy japanese pumpkin soup

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Asian vegetables - making spicy japanese pumpkin soup

Recently there has been an increase in domestic consumption of Asian vegetables. Allocation of space to oriental food stuffs in supermarkets is rapidly increasing by about 15 % in the last couple of years.

There are also quite a few Asian food shops being set up in shopping centres around the state.

Today, most major supermarket chains are very keen to have a new section to sell a wide range of Asian vegetables in their fresh produce departments.

Good quality and fresh Asian vegetables need only simple cooking. Most Asian vegetables lend themselves to cooking by one of theses simple basic methods, stir-frying, steaming, boiling, blanching, deep frying, or in salads and soups.

Many traditional vegetable recipes can be adapted to use Asian vegetables. The following recipe is a good example of a mixture of European style cooking with Asian vegetables.

Source: Murat Top, DNRE Tatura

Spicy Japanese Pumpkin Soup

You will need:

» 1 kg slices of Japanese pumpkin

» 50 grams butter

» 50 grams tomato paste

» 1 onion, chopped

» 1 stock cube

» Salt, black pepper and a little cayene pepper

» Chopped parsley

» To give your soup different taste and aroma you can also add some other vegetables (eg. 3 medium potato, peeled and chopped, 2 stalks of celery or 2-3 piece broccoli and 2 medium carrots, chopped)

What to do:

1. Put Japanese pumpkin (and other vegetables, if desired) and onion in a saucepan, add water with salt and simmer it until tender.

2. Liquidise in a blender or food processor. If necessary, add water to give the consistency you prefer.

3. Put the butter and tomato paste into the pan than add spices and seasoning.

4. Return the mixture to the pan and bring to the boil again. Check seasoning, and if necessary, add some more.

5.
Serve in bowls using chopped parsley as garnish.

Enjoy!!!!!

Find out more about Asian Vegetables:
Visit the DPI Asian Vegetables Website at : www.nre.vic.gov.au/trade/asiaveg/aa-home.htm