Autumn Spiced Pear Soup with Coconut Cream and Walnut Dust

Ingredients

• •4 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and chopped
• •1 tablespoon olive oil
• •1 medium onion, finely chopped
• •2 cloves garlic, minced
• •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• •1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• •1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• •4 cups vegetable broth
• •1/2 cup coconut milk (plus extra for garnish)
• •1/2 teaspoon salt
• •1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• •1/4 cup walnuts, finely ground
• •1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

2. 2

   Add the chopped onion and garlic, and sauté until softened, approximately 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Stir in the ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, cooking for 1 minute to bloom the spices.

4. 4

   Add the chopped pears and stir to coat them in the spice mixture.

5. 5

   Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the pears are soft.

6. 6

   Remove the soup from heat and use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or carefully transfer to a countertop blender.

7. 7

   Return the soup to the pot and stir in the coconut milk. Seaon with salt and pepper to taste.

8. 8

   If desired, add maple syrup for extra sweetness and stir well.

9. 9

   Serve hot, garnished with a drizzle of coconut cream and a sprinkle of walnut dust.