Fiona Faulkner's warming autumn recipes

Food writer and presenter Fiona Faulkner recently caught the attention of parents with the publication of her new book 25 Foods Kids Hate… and how to get them eating 24 (New Holland). Fiona’s recipes and ideas have since been featured on ITV – where she’s been described as ‘the Harry Potter of Vegetables’ – and has also cooked with the kids of numerous celebrity mums – including fashion designer Alice Temperley, who has her new fashion range at the soon to be opened John Lewis in Exeter,  and TV presenter Sarah Beeney.

Fiona, who is based in the South West, describes herself as “utterly passionate about veg” and here she shares with The Exeter Daily a recipe from her book, which celebrates the new autumn season – offering inspiration for that October favourite: pumpkin.

Spiced Split Pea and Pumpkin Soup

Serves 6

RECIPE PREP TIME: 5 minutes (PLUS see note below re soaking the split peas)

RECIPE COOK TIME: 30 minutes 

The split peas, pumpkin and sweet potato create a lovely sweetness, which is a nice ‘backbone’ for the spice.

INGREDIENTS

100g dried split yellow peas, soaked overnight (simply place in a bowl and cover with cold water)

2 tbsp olive / local rapeseed oil

1 onion, diced

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 tsp ground cumin / curry powder

1 large sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped

1 small pumpkin (or butternut squash), peeled and roughly chopped (no seeds)

1 litre hot vegetable stock 

METHOD:

1. Drain the split peas and rinse them through with cold water. Set aside.

2. In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Sauté the onion, garlic and cumin for a couple of minutes. Add the potato, pumpkin, split peas and stock. Simmer rapidly for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Transfer to a blender and blitz until smooth. Taste and add any seasoning you want to – or extra spice. Feel free to loosen slightly with a bit of extra stock. 

COOK’S NOTES

Ditch the spice altogether for very young kids – or cut it back to half a teaspoon. 

Find out more about Fiona at www.fionafaulkner.co.uk and follow her on Twitter: @fiona_faulkner 

Come back tomorrow for Fiona's Banana and butternut smoothie recipe - perfect for Halloween!