This is one of my favourite soups and perfect to warm you up as those chilly autumn nights roll in. It is filling and tasty and best served with slices of warm crusty French bread.

Serves: 6-8
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients

1kg fresh pumpkin, diced
50ml runny honey
80ml olive oil
500g onions, peeled and diced
4 bay leaves
5 sprigs fresh thyme, stalks removed
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
450ml hot vegetable or chicken stock
½ litre double cream
salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve

300g red Leicester cheese, grated
crème fraîche

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180˚C/Fan 160˚C/Gas 4.
2. Coat the pumpkin with the honey in a roasting tray and bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, which will soften and caramelise it.
3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a saucepan and add the onions, bay leaves, thyme and vinegar. Sweat gently for about 5-6 minutes, or until the onions are soft.
4. Add the pumpkin to the onions, together with the stock, and heat until almost at boiling point. Simmer steadily for about 20 minutes.
5. Remove and discard the bay leaves, and stir in the cream. Bring to the boil.
6. Once the soup has boiled, remove it from the heat and blitz in a blender or food processor. Pass through a sieve or strainer, and adjust the seasoning.
7. To serve, reheat in a clean pan. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle each with cheese and top with a dollop of crème fraîche.