This is one of my favourite soups for a detox — a rich, creamy Thai-inspired pumpkin soup packed with pumpkin, garlic, onion, turmeric and coconut. The Thai red curry paste gives it a beautiful spicy kick, while the coconut cream makes it incredibly creamy and satisfying.
It also makes a big batch of 8–10 servings, so you can prepare it once and have a delicious, healthy meal ready for several days of your detox.
Serves 8-10 people
Ingredients
- 1 large crown pumpkin
- 2 cans coconut cream
- ½–1 jar Thai red curry paste, depending on how hot you like it
- 2 large onions
- 18 cloves of garlic
- 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Method
Peel and chop the pumpkin, cover it with water and boil until it just starts to soften.
While the pumpkin is cooking, peel and chop the garlic and onions into small pieces. Add them to a frying pan with the olive oil and coconut oil, sprinkle over the turmeric and sauté until the onion and garlic become soft.
Add half a jar of Thai red curry paste, or more if you like it hot, and sauté for approximately one minute to release the flavours.
Add the two cans of coconut cream and allow the mixture to gently cook for about 10 minutes.
Combine the coconut curry mixture with the cooked pumpkin and blend everything together with a stick blender. Add some of the pumpkin cooking water back into the soup until you reach your preferred consistency.
I also like to add or serve the soup with sautéed leeks, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts or broccoli for an extra serving of nutritious vegetables.
Why it’s a great detox meal
Pumpkin is an excellent source of beta-carotene and other plant nutrients, while garlic, onion and turmeric add a range of beneficial plant compounds. The coconut cream provides healthy fats and makes the soup filling and satisfying, while adding extra vegetables increases the fibre and nutritional value.
Best of all, this recipe makes 8–10 servings, meaning you can prepare it once and have a healthy meal ready for three or four days.
A fantastic, warming and satisfying meal to enjoy during your 7-Day or 14-Day Deep Cleanse.
Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring. Sometimes it can be hot, spicy and absolutely delicious!
Powerful Pumpkin:
Pumpkin is one of the best-known sources of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that gives orange the color to vegetables. The body converts it into vitamin A in the body. Foods high in beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and can delay aging and body deterioration.
Blood pressure: Eating pumpkin is good for the heart! The fiber, potassium, and vitamin C content in pumpkin all support heart health. Consuming adequate potassium is almost as important as decreasing sodium intake for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). Other foods that are high in potassium include bananas, oranges, pineapple, spinach, and tomatoes.
