Red Curry Chicken and Pumpkin Soup

Chef John's recipe for red curry chicken and pumpkin soup helps to ward off those winter blues with its soothing, heartwarming taste and lovely contrast of flavors and textures.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 454 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 large red bell pepper, diced
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1 medium red onion, diced, divided
• 1 tablespoon freshly minced ginger
• 2 tablespoons red curry paste, or more to taste
• 6 cups chicken broth, or to taste, divided
• 1 (13 ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk (not low-fat)
• 1 (2 pound) kabocha squash
• 2 medium green onions, thinly sliced, or more to taste
• 2 small serrano peppers, thinly sliced
• 3 medium limes, halved
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 0.5 cup chopped fresh cilantro, or more to taste
• 0.25 cup chopped fresh basil, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat vegetable oil in a soup pot over high heat. Add chicken to hot oil; cook, stirring occasionally until browned, about 5 minutes.

Step 2

Stir in 1/2 of the red onion and brown sugar. Cook until onions have softened and sugar starts to caramelize on the bottom of the pan, about 3 minutes. Stir in black pepper, cumin, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Toss in ginger and garlic; stir until sizzling, about 1 minute.

Step 3

Add 4 cups chicken broth and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil. Add coconut milk and curry paste. Add cayenne pepper and bay leaf. Stir in fish sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

Step 4

Carefully cut squash with a large knife on a cutting board. Remove seeds and peel and discard skin. Cut flesh into bite-sized pieces. You should have about 1 1/2 pounds squash.

Step 5

Add squash to soup and salt to taste. Add remaining chicken broth to cover squash. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until pumpkin is just barely tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 6

Stir in remaining red onion, bell pepper, and green onions; cook for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, and stir in 1/2 cup cilantro and 1/4 cup basil. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Step 7

Ladle into bowls and garnish with more cilantro, basil, green onions, and serrano chiles. Squeeze lime juice into each bowl.