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Curry Pumpkin Seafood Soup

SAVE ✓ SAVED ADD TO MEAL PLAN PRINT VIEW IN SPANISH

This is a great Thai-inspired seafood soup that uses pumpkin or butternut squash. I adapted this recipe from one I found by Nigella Lawson. You can vary the amount of spice depending on your family’s taste. I would start with just one tablespoon of the curry paste and add more later if it’s not spicy enough. One tablespoon was perfect for my kids who are 5 and 8 years old. This can easily be made with salmon, but tonight I used a white fish (halibut) and some shrimp. The white fish will be a little more mild for young tasters, and those who don’t like the taste of “fishy” fish. Tilapia, cod, haddock would work well. The greens I used were swiss chard, but spinach or bok choy would be great. Experiment with this recipe, by adding in some of your family’s own favorite vegetables. Asian groceries are a great place to find fish sauce and red curry paste. However, most groceries have an aisle with Asian foods. "Taste of Thai" is a common brand that makes both of these. Buy it once and then enjoy trying other Thai dishes with curry paste. Visit our "Curry in a Hurry" Meal-o-Matic for more curry dishes.

Ingredients

Food
Amt
Units
Prep
Notes
1 14 ounce can coconut milk
coconut milk
1
14 ounce can
1 tablespoon red curry paste (more to taste)
red curry paste
1
tablespoon
more to taste
1½ cups fish stock
fish stock
cups
2 tablespoons fish sauce
fish sauce
2
tablespoons
2 tablespoons brown sugar
brown sugar
2
tablespoons
3 stalks lemongrass, cut into 3 pieces and bruised with the side of a knife
lemongrass
3
stalks
cut into 3 pieces and bruised with the side of a knife
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
ground turmeric
½
teaspoon
2 pounds pumpkin, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces (or butternut squash)
pumpkin
2
pounds
peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
or butternut squash
1 pounds fish, cut into bite-sized cubes (salmon or white fish)
fish
1
pounds
cut into bite-sized cubes
salmon or white fish
1 pound shrimp, peeled, raw
shrimp
1
pound
peeled, raw
3 cups bok choy, white and leafy parts cut into bite-sized pieces (can sub other favorite leafy green like spinach or kale)
bok choy
3
cups
white and leafy parts cut into bite-sized pieces
can sub other favorite leafy green like spinach or kale
1 lime, cut into wedges for garnish
limes
1
cut into wedges for garnish
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
cilantro
¼
cup
chopped

Method

Take the cream from the top of the coconut milk and whisk it with the Thai curry paste in large soup pot over medium heat until the curry paste is dissolved. Add the remaining coconut milk, fish stock, fish sauce, sugar, lemongrass, optional lime leaves (difficult to find but REALLY enhances the flavor) and turmeric. Bring to a boil and then add the pumpkin or squash. Simmer until tender and until some of the chunks can be smashed easily with the back of the wooden spoon (5-25 minutes depending on what type of pumpkin or squash you use). Smash about 1/4 of the pumpkin or squash cubes against the side of the pot and stir into broth.

With the broth at a good simmer, add seafood and cook about 5 minutes until cooked through. Add in greens and veggies and cook a few more minutes until wilted and warmed. Serve topped with chopped cilantro and a lime wedge for people to add lime juice to taste.

Babyfood Option:

Use a tablespoon or even less of curry paste and remove a portion of the pumpkin and soft fish for baby. If the rest of the family prefers a spicier soup, more red curry paste can be added after baby's portion is removed. Soup can be puréed or left into soft squishy bites. Talk to your physician if you have a concern about food allergies, especially if there is a family history.

Prep time
10 min
Cook time
30 min
Cost per serving:
$6.19
Yields/Serves:
6 servings (double for a tasty "Cook Once, Eat Twice" Meal)
Contains Fish, Contains Shellfish
Nutrition Information

Yum Ratings

😫😟😐😀😍 “Okay. but I don’t love shrimp” —Zane, age 8
😫😟😐😀😍 “Yum. Its pretty good but I don’t want to eat anymore.” —Asa, age 5
😫😟😐😀😍 “Yum. It’s too lemony, though.” —Maria, age 11
😫😟😐😀😍 “Yum, but I don’t like the greens.” —Noelle, age 6
😫😟😐😀😍 “Yum, but I don’t like the fish.” —Nia, age 6