Recipe: Pumpkin Corn Chowder

This delicious fall recipe brings out the savory side of pumpkin, and it's a great vegetarian chowder recipe with lots of tasty fall flavors like peppers, leeks, and corn. It's also a good way to use up leftover pumpkin that you didn't use in a pie or pumpkin bread or muffins. Try it as a side dish, or a light lunch on a "Meatless Monday," and enjoy the taste of fall!

Pumpkin Corn Chowder(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

Pumpkin and Corn Chowder (Photo credit: FoodMayhem.com)

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 leeks, cleaned and chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 medium bell peppers, chopped
2 1/4 lb. cooking pumpkin peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh marjoram
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/4 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
6 cups vegetable broth

Directions:

•  Put olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Add the leeks and cook until tender, about 4 or 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low, then stir in the green peppers, and cook until the peppers begin to soften, about 7 or 8 minutes.
• Now add the rest of the ingredients, turn the heat to low and simmer until the pumpkin is tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure the soup doesn't boil, just slowly simmers.
• Remove the bay leaves and serve hot.