Winter is here, and that means cosy nights in and heartwarming meals that bring warmth and comfort to our chilly days. One classic winter favourite has to be a steaming bowl of pumpkin soup; it's delicious, nutritious, and really hits the spot on a cold day. However, have you ever wondered if there's a way to make that perfect bowl of pumpkin soup even better?

Well, former MasterChef Australia judge and food writer Matt Preston has just revealed his unexpected secret ingredient that takes his roast pumpkin soup to a whole new level. Believe it or not, it's Granny Smith apples!




That's right, according to Matt Preston—who is not only a renowned ex-MasterChef Australia judge but also a celebrity food critic—his ultimate secret to a perfect pumpkin soup is the addition of tart Granny Smith apples. He claims that adding these apples enhances the soup's creaminess while balancing its savoury flavours to create a delicious taste sensation.

'This is a really simple Australian pumpkin soup, and it's packed with wonderful wintery flavours,' Matt said in a video demonstration.

Now, if you're curious about how exactly to make this intriguing version of pumpkin soup, here's Matt's method. In addition to the Granny Smith apples, you'll also need butternut pumpkins, red onions, garlic cloves, vegetable stock, olive oil, nutmeg, and cinnamon:

1. Preheat your oven to 180C (fan-forced).
2. Prepare the ingredients: 2kg pumpkin (halved), two red onions (peeled and halved), four apples (quartered), and five garlic cloves. Place them all on a large baking tray.
3. Season the ingredients with 50ml olive oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Toss them together so that they're evenly coated in the spices.
4. Bake the tray in the oven for 45 minutes or until everything is soft to the touch. Allow them to cool down enough so you can handle them safely.
5. Add the baked ingredients into a blender along with vegetable stock (as needed), and gently blitz the mixture until the desired consistency is achieved.
6. Pour the soup into a large pot and let it simmer on the stove. Incorporate 800ml of stock in four intervals, stirring continually until the soup is smooth and creamy.
7. Finally, garnish your masterpiece pumpkin soup with a dollop of crème fraîche, shredded apple, hazelnuts, and crispy sage leaves for that extra touch of finesse.

Upon sharing this recipe, Matt received an outpouring of appreciation from fellow soup lovers who were eager to try the unconventional apple twist.



'This looks so yummy, I can't wait to try it,' one enthusiast said, while another commented, 'I've never thought of apples in pumpkin soup, but I'm salivating now!' High praise, indeed!

Winter Meal Planning and Maintaining a Balanced Diet​

As we age, our bodies can become more sensitive to temperature changes, making it even more important to keep a nutritious diet during winter.

Hearty meals to combat winter chills also provide the perfect opportunity to keep a balanced diet. For example, the pumpkin soup that was mentioned above contains several beneficial ingredients like apples, garlic and nutmeg, all of which are packed with key vitamins and minerals.

Eating a balanced diet throughout the winter months can help boost your immune system, reduce stress, and even improve your cognitive function!



A great way to keep things interesting is to use different cooking methods like baking, roasting and steaming when preparing winter meals.



So, if you're feeling adventurous and looking to elevate your next pumpkin soup experience, why not give Matt Preston's secret ingredient tip a try? It just might become your new favourite winter warmer. Happy cooking, dear members!