Disney’s pumpkin soup will bowl you over

Ginger adds flavor to this creamy pumpkin soup served at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

Today’s recipe is for the Ginger Pumpkin Soup as served by Disney’s Contemporary Resort catering division in 2006. It would make a great addition to any fall menu. Here’s a little test kitchen tip: Adding the ginger too early or using the powder form, can result in a spicier soup. With dry ginger, the soup gets a more peppery flavor the longer it cooks.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort Catering’s Ginger Pumpkin Soup

Yield: 8 servings.

1 teaspoon minced shallots

1/2 teaspoon olive oil

2- to 3-pound pumpkin, peeled, seeded and diced into 3/4-inch pieces

1/2 cup brandy

4 cups chicken broth

1 1/4 cups unsweetened pumpkin puree

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon each: minced fresh ginger and white wine

1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon

Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese

1. Sweat shallots in oil until translucent. Add pumpkin and sweat until fork tender. Add brandy and let cook until reduced in volume by half. Add broth and pumpkin puree; simmer 30 minutes.

2. Puree minced ginger and combine with wine; set aside. Puree soup with handheld blender. Adjust to desired consistency with more broth or water.

3. Thirty minutes before serving, add couple of teaspoons of ginger and wine combination, cinnamon and nutmeg to reach desired flavor. Serve with a spoonful of mascarpone cheese on top.