Pumpkin and cashew velouté

1. Place the pumpkin pieces, diced carrots, three minced garlic cloves, one cup of raw cashews and two bay leaves in a large pot. Fill with enough water to cover the pumpkin pieces.
2. Put the pot over the heat, cover, bring to a boil, and cook until the pumpkin and carrots are tender.
3. In a skillet, sauté the chopped onions and the remaining three cloves of minced garlic in one tablespoon of olive oil. Cook over medium heat until the onions begin to caramelize.
4. Add the sage and herbes de Provence. Cook for a few more minutes, until the herbs release their aroma.
5. Remove the pot of pumpkin from the heat. Add the onions, white pepper, Maggi cube and soy sauce to the pot. Resume cooking over low heat.
6. Taste the soup to check the seasoning. Adjust if necessary.
7. Add 2 tablespoons of flour and the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet used for the onions. Stir and cook until the flour takes on a brown color (peanut butter consistency).
8. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.
9. Add the mixture to the soup pot (be careful of splattering). Stir until homogeneous, then remove the pot from the heat.
10. Blend the soup with an immersion blender (or regular blender) until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
11. Toast the remaining cashews in a dry pan over medium heat.
12. Serve the soup topped with the toasted cashews.

Pumpkin, beautiful and delicious

Pumpkin, from the squash family (cucurbits), has a shape both amusing and impressive, a bright color and many properties. Low in calories, rich in water, fiber, and antioxidants, with a high content of vitamin C and vitamins B, B1, B2, B3, B5, it may help prevent aging and cardiovascular diseases. In addition to its flesh, its roasted seeds are very popular.

Besides its nutritional value and the different uses in cooking—creamy soups, lasagna, cakes, pies—pumpkin is an essential component, along with turkey and pecan pie, of the Thanksgiving feast in the United States. It is also a must for Halloween, carved and turned into a Jack-o'-lantern, the famous character from children's tales.