Homemade Lavender Spray Recipes

Lavender spray usually made up of lavender essential oils.  They are distilled from the Lavendula Angustifolia that promotes relaxation and helps in aromatherapy. Lavenders are favorite among gardeners and herbalists.

Health Benefits Of Lavender Spray

Research has pointed out that lavender treats many health conditions. They are,

1. Anxiety

The lavender essential oil-based aromatherapy helps to soothe anxiety is mainly postpartum women. Ingesting lavender may relieve anxiety.

2. Depression

Lavender aromatherapy helps people suffering from depression.

3. Insomnia

Lavender sprays help to promote sleep. It treats people suffering from insomnia. The duration of sleep increases as well as the quality with the aid of lavender sprays. It also helps to improve sleepiness at awakening in the morning.

4. Digestive issues

Some studies suggest that consuming lavender or spraying lavender on sheets can reduce digestive issues like vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas.

5. Headaches

The soothing smell of lavender helps to reduce headaches and migraines. It calms down the nerves and brings them under control. It helps you to doze off to sleep.

Homemade lavender sprays are very helpful to put you to sleep. They are easy to make and very efficient for health. In this article, we will mention all the necessary information and requirements regarding how to make a homemade lavender spray.

There are several methods to make a lavender spray; the methods can be mentioned as follows,

First Method – With Rubbing Alcohol Or Vodka

Ingredients: 

• Two cups of distilled water
• Two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol or vodka
• 20 drop of lavender essential oil
• Freshly dried lavender for decoration (not compulsory)

Procedure to make lavender spray:

• Mix and combine all the ingredients mentioned above, in a spray bottle. 
• Shake well for a minimum of 2 minutes. 
• Use it when necessary.

You can spray the homemade lavender spray on beddings or pillows, to give it a fresh smell and make a fresh ambience. Lavender has a soothing smell, and it aids in a restful night’s sleep.

Second Method To Make A Lavender Spray

Ingredients and materials:

• Jar with a tight-fitting lid
• Two tablespoons of vodka
• 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil
• Six tablespoons of water
• Funnel
• Spray bottle
• Label sheets (if necessary)

Procedure to make lavender spray:

• In the jar, mix the witch hazel or the vodka with the lavender essential oil. Shake the jar 30 seconds minimum. Add water and repeat the shaking procedure.
• Place the funnel in the spray bottle’s mouth and pour the mixture from the jar to the spray bottle.
• You can print, cut out and stick the label of your choice to the spray bottle to make the homemade lavender spray look like a product bought from the market. 

Your homemade lavender spray is ready with the above mentioned easy steps. Make your guests feel at home. Spray it on sheets, pillows and have a good night sleep.

The third Method To Make A Lavender Spray

Ingredients and materials:

• 2 cups distilled water
• ¾ cup dried lavender flowers or 1 cup of fresh lavender flowers
• Lavender tea 
• ¼ cup vodka
• 70 drops of lavender essential oil
• Non-reactive glass or enamel-coated pot
• Strainer
• Bottle with a sprayer

Procedure to make lavender tea:

Make homemade lavender tea by boiling water and pouring it over the lavender flowers. Let the lavender brew. Allow it to sit for it to steep for 25 to 30 minutes.

Procedure to make lavender spray:

• Add the lavender essential oil, lavender tea (strained) and vodka into the jar. Close the lid and shake it well for 20 seconds to blend the ingredients.
• The lavender tea must cool down completely before use.

You can use this homemade lavender spray on your face and body as well. Also, use it as a room freshener and apply it on pillows and bedsheets. You can store it in the refrigerator. Do not forget to give it a good shake every time you use it.

DIY Non-alcoholic Lavender Spray

Ingredients and materials:

• A 4 ounce small, dark and clean mister bottle
• Distilled water
• Ten drops of lavender oil
• 3 ounces of Witch hazel
• Ten drops of Roman chamomile essential oil
• Small funnel

Procedure: 

• Use the funnel to pour the witch hazel in the mister bottle
• Add the drops of essential oils one by one. Do not mix the two together.
• Pour enough distilled water in the bottle. Leave a little space to shake and spray
• Shake the bottle for 30 seconds, and your spray is ready.

How To Use The Lavender Spray

• You can spray your bed sheets and pillows before going to bed.
• Spray it in your car to get that soothing effect. During long trips, it keeps the car fresh as new.
• Spray a good amount of the spray in your living room to make your guests feel rejuvenated.
• Lavender also helps to calm the frazzled nerves of the dogs. Spray a little amount on your pet dog’s bed or inside his crate before it settles down.

Lavender Spray Insect Repellent:

Lavender sprays are not only used for aromatherapy, but it is also used as a bug repellent. Here is the method you can follow to make your lavender insect repellent.

Method:

Mix one cup alcohol with 10 to 20 drops of lavender essential oil. Mix well, and your spray is ready to keep your house bugs and insect free.

Benefits Of Lavender Spray

Lavender sprays are made up of lavender essential oils. The lavender essential oils are one of the most popular and versatile essential oils that are used in aromatherapy. It is believed to treat anxiety and even menstrual cramps. Lavender is considered to be a multipurpose oil. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, detoxifying and sedative effects.

Side Effects Of Lavender Spray

Lavender is the safest when it is inhaled. When taken in the mouth, it can cause headache, increased appetite and even constipation.

Applying the lavender products on skin can be harmful to young boys and girls who have not reached puberty yet.

Getting in close contact with lavender can disrupt the normal hormones in a child’s body.

Conclusion

Lavender sprays are a must product in everyday life. It is an instant mood changer. Its aromatherapy has helped many to recover from a serious illness. It is always a good idea to make your own products with authentic products. Lavender sprays can be easily made with a bunch of ingredients that are easily available at any departmental store. The procedure is also easy. It just involves a thorough mixing of the ingredients, and you are good to go.

This article has covered almost all the information necessary to make a homemade lavender spray along with its benefits and side effects. Now you can easily make the spray. I hope the information we provided has helped you and has catered to your needs.

How To Make Fruit Wine Like A Pro At Home

Who doesn’t love wine, right? Readymade wine is easily available to us in the market. But making your fruit wine is something very easy and no doubt very exciting! You can produce fruit wine from not only grapes but from cherries or plum? 

Fruit wine, also called country wines, have a very simple and easy recipe. You can follow it for any fruit of your choice. So, go through this blog, and after this, we hope you will be a pro at making fruit wine at home. 

Flavors You Can Choose

Whenever we think of fruit wine, it is grapes that pop up on our mind. But there are so many other delicious fruits that you can make wine with. So, let’s explore some other optionsto make fruit wine.

• Cherries: These can create a delicious wine which is simply perfect for the holidays. 
• Blueberry: Wines made from blueberries are extremely delicious and become ready to drink after only one year.
• Plums: Chop up some plums and get ready to ferment them for a year. This will give you an amazing wine for all your special occasions.
• Peaches: Although a bit messy for use, yet its aroma is worth all the effort. Peach wines have an overwhelming taste.
• Strawberries: Strawberry wines taste best when you let it age for at least a year, but it is a sweetheart of fruit wines!
• Apples: If you like your wine light, then choose apples to make your fruit wine. This wine will taste best if you let it age for at least a year.

Checklist The Equipment

1. Fruit of your choice (either raw, which is the best choice, or concentrates also work equally well)
2. A crusher and press
3. Wine Yeast
4. Airlocks
5. A bag for fermentation
6. For primary fermentation, you will need a glass jug (a large gallon would also do)
7. For the secondary fermentation, you will need another container (preferably glass)
8. A siphon tube
9. A clean bottle for storing the wine
10. Optional Equipment: Hydrometer. This is not extremely crucial but will reduce your workload a lot. You can easily measure the quantities of sugar (read, the alcohol level). 
11. Optional Equipment: Wine Barrel. These come quite expensive but can amazingly soak the fruit flavor to your wine. Choose a small barrel if you want to go for it because they are less likely to leak. 

Recipe For Making Fruit Wine

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes

Ingredients:

1. Fresh fruits (4-6 pounds)
2. Sugar (2-3 pounds) or Honey (1 pound)
3. Boiled water (about the same quantity of wine you want)
4. Active dry yeast (1 package)
5. Lemon juice (of 1 lemon)
6. A liquid pectic enzyme (5-6 drops)
7. Optional: concentrated frozen white grape juice

One special magic ingredient: Time!

Process:

• Chop the fresh fruits into very small cubes.
• In the primary fermentation container, combine the fruit, sugar or honey, and hot water. 
• Use a hydrometer (if you want) to check the quantity of the sugar before you add it.
• Add the lemon juice to this brew along with the pectic enzyme.
• If you’re using grape juice concentrate, then add it to the mixture too.
• Submerge this bag entirely into the liquid. 
• Use a clean towel to cover this fermenter. Store it in a cool and dry place for at least 24 hours.
• After the first 24 hours, remove the towel, and add the yeast to the mixture. The fermentation process should be allowed for 6-7 days.
• After seven days, the fruit will become gooey. At this time, you have to lift it and allow the juice to drip to the wine (make sure you don’t squeeze it).
• Let the wine rest now for a few days.
• After the resting period, it is time to siphon the clear part of the mixture into a clean glass bottle with an airlock.
• Keep at least 5 inches between the airlock and the liquid.
• Keep the mixture at a temperature of 70°F.
• Siphon the mixture again to a clean bottle after at least a month. Check the airlock to make sure that it is clean and properly functional.
• Repeat the same step after three months. 
• If there are live yeasts still present in the mix, then wait for it to dry down. Or, you can also use sulphites to kill them.
• During the sixth month, move the wine to normal room temperatures.
• Check for any bubbles on top of the wine, or near the airlock. If there are no bubbles, then your home-made fruit wine is ready. 
• Move the wine to glass bottles and seal them off. It is best if you wait for a year or two to enjoy a better taste. If you taste it while you are bottling it, then the taste would be too rough. 
• The last touch to your perfect fruit wine is storing it. Storing it is exactly like the grape wine from regular shops. Choose a very cool and dry place. 

Pro Tip: 

Adjust the acids added to the fruit wine to make it a bit more balanced. If you like your wine a bit tangy, keep the proportion of acids a bit on a larger scale.

Will Fruit Wine Be Like Regular Wine?

Yes, why not! By wine, we essentially think of some beverage that is solely made of grapes. But you’ll be amazed to learn that it is the process of making wine that remains the same for fruit wine, and honours its name. 

Wine is made in the breweries by fermentation. You can produce your personalized red wine or white wine! You just have to choose the correct fruit for it.

Happy Holidaying With Fruit Wine

The secret to a perfect fruit wine is the amount of time you allow it to rest. There is not much variation in the procedure of making it. It will taste just like the base fruit that you have chosen to make it. 

A few extra tips to follow while making fruit wine would be to check for the correct ratios. You should be extra careful about the amount of sugar or honey you are adding. Keep it exactly half as that of the quantity of the fruit. It is best to use a hydrometer for this purpose.

You can now make your holidays merrier and keep your guests happy with the perfect fruit wine!

Smoothie Mix Recipes

Smoothies are the go-to for anyone who is looking for a quick snack that will be healthy and tasty at the same time. A smoothie is not only blended fruits. Many people consider making a smoothie as a form of art. You can showcase your talent of making smoothie mix recipes and enjoying it yourself or with the people you love. 

We believe that smoothies are the best meal or snack for any kind of weather. In this article, we have listed our favourite smoothie mix recipes for you. You can always make changes to these recipes according to your likings. 

The Guide For Making The Perfect Smoothie Mix 

1. Pick the fruit of your choice 

Any combo of fruit that you like is great for a smoothie. You can choose from strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or even bananas for the base of our smoothie. Also go for a tropical smoothie by adding mango, pineapple and banana. 

You can also switch it up with blueberries and peach, giving your smoothie a summer twist. Always aim at adding three generous cups of fruit.

2. Frozen or fresh fruit?

Frozen fruits are best when making a smoothie. This is because frozen fruits blend up better than fresh fruits. It gives a cold smoothie for enjoying after blending. You can always freeze your fresh fruits for thirty minutes blending if you don’t have frozen fruits. 

3. Choose a liquid of your choice

Choosing your smoothie’s ideal liquid is completely up to you—Coconut milk pairs well with any tropical smoothie making you smoothie mix recipe richer and creamier. Almond milk gives the nutty flavour to the smoothie. 

You can also add whole milk or fruit juice as they work well for smoothies. Add liquid to your smoothie according to the consistency that you want. Keep in mind to use less liquid when you use less thickener. 

4. Add a thickener 

There are many kinds of thickeners that you can add to your smoothie depending on the consistency that you like. You can use Greek yoghurt, almond butter, peanut butter or even vanilla yoghurt. A half-cup should be ideal for a standard smoothie. You can either lessen the thickener amount or skip it completely if you prefer a thinner smoothie. 

5. Throw any add-ins of your choice 

Adding kale or spinach will give additional nutrition to your smoothie. You can also add flax seeds for omega-3s. Adding flavours like vanilla extract, cinnamon, fresh mint, or honey will take your smoothie mix recipe to the next level. 

There is no other meal that you can make as easy as making a smoothie. All you need to do it put all the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth! 

Smoothie Mix Recipes 

1. Classic Green Smoothie 

A smoothie cannot get any healthier than a classic green smoothie. Green smoothies might not taste the best, but if you can make them right, then they can be balanced, sweet and have no flavour of greens at all! 

One frozen banana, one cup of unsweetened milk (can be soy, nut or animal), one cup of greens (destemmed kale, baby spinach, collards, etc.) and honey or maple syrup to taste, is all that you will need for this smoothie. 

2. Mango-Acai Smoothie 

Blend one cup chopped mango, two-four ounces packages of frozen acai puree, half cup of orange juice, and two cups of ice. Now you just made yourself a smoothie that gives you the perfect taste of summer and healthy. 

3. Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie 

Who doesn’t like the combo of chocolate and peanut butter? It is everyone’s favourite! This is a dessert-like smoothie. 

One frozen banana, one tablespoon of natural peanut butter, one cup unsweetened milk, one to three teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and finally honey or maple syrup to taste is all that you will need for this smoothie. Tweaking the amount of cocoa powder can help in adjusting the intensity of the smoothie. 

4. Chocolate Chip Smoothie 

Here is another smoothie mix recipe for all chocolate lovers out there! To make this smoothie blend together one cup of milk, one cup of vanilla ice cream, one cup of crumbled chocolate chip cookies along with ¼ cup of mini chocolate chips. Top it with a cookie, and it’s done!

5. Creamy Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie 

This smoothie is not only super tasty, but also it has a boost of protein. The peanut butter and Greek yoghurt make this smoothie loaded with protein. 

To make this smoothie add in your blender two frozen bananas, two tablespoons of natural peanut butter, one cup of unsweetened milk, half cup of Greek yoghurt and maple syrup or honey to taste. You can also throw in some handful of spinach for the additional nutrients. 

6. Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie 

Are you fond of pumpkin spice or pumpkin spice latte? Then this smoothie is for you. To make this smoothie, blend half teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, half-cup each pumpkin puree along with silken tofu, one cup milk, 3 ½ tablespoons of brown sugar, and a pinch of salt and ice. 

7. Orange Dreamsicle Smoothie 

This is another smoothie that tastes like a frozen treat. This smoothie will need a high power smoothie as the standard blenders can’t handle orange slices very well. 

All you will need for making this smoothie is one frozen banana, half cup Greek yoghurt, one peeled orange, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, one cup of unsweetened milk and honey and maple syrup to taste. 

8. Watermelon Smoothie 

Watermelons are everyone’s go-to fruit during the summer and now watermelon in the form of a smoothie? Does it get any better? 

For making this smoothie freeze three cups seeded cubed watermelons until they are hard. Then add to the blender one cup of fresh cubed watermelon, ¼ cup of sugar, one lime juice, and one water cup. 

9. Pineapple Coconut Smoothie 

This smoothie might not be everyone’s choice. Not many people like the taste of pineapple or coconut. But for those who do this is an all-time favourite. 

To make this, smoothie freezes almost two cups of coconut milk in one or two ice-cube trays. Then blend two cups of chopped pineapple, two cups of coconut ice cubes, 1 ½ tablespoon of lime juice, half cup of coconut water and one tablespoon of honey. 

10. Pina Colada Smoothie 

This smoothie is the healthier virgin version of your favourite popular tropical cocktail. For making this smoothie, you will need two frozen bananas, one cup of coconut milk directly from the can, one cup of pineapple chunks either canned or fresh, and honey or maple syrup to taste. Put all of this together in the blender and blend. 

The coconut milk adds to the tropical flavor of the smoothie. However, if you don’t have any, any other kind of milk will work as well.  

AIP Breakfast Ideas

In today’s world, where most of us are working hard towards our dream career and ideal life, we often forget about maintaining a proper diet. Eating healthy and not skipping meals is the first step towards good health.

Before we talk about AIP breakfast, let’s learn about the AIP diet. The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet is a diet that aims at reducing pain, inflammation, and various other symptoms like celiac disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 

The AIP diet is the stricter form of the well-known Paleolithic diet. Various individuals who have followed the AIP diet have noticed improvements in the way they feel, along with the reduction in common symptoms of autoimmune disorders, like the gut or joint pain or fatigue. 

The AIP diet removes food items that have been found to cause autoimmune disease symptoms to cause or increase ‘flare-ups’. 

AIP Breakfast – What Can You Eat? 

Firstly, the AIP diet is an elimination diet, which implies that it is essential to strictly eliminate food items before you re-introduce them one-by-one taking note of their effect. 

It is not easy to be able to find AIP breakfast recipes. You cannot have the regular cereal, or pancakes or eggs and bacon, doughnuts and waffles. One of the toughest and time-consuming meals of the day to wrap your head around while you are on an AIP diet is breakfast. 

In this given article, we have assembled for you a list of AIP breakfast recipes. However, don’t worry. Eating an AIP breakfast doesn’t mean boring and bland breakfast foods. From AIP sausages and porridges, you will still be able to enjoy several of your old breakfast favourites. 

AIP Breakfast Ideas 

1. Chicken Apple Sausage

The ingredients you will need for this recipe are chicken, thyme, parsley, salt, oregano, garlic powder, and apple. You can always prepare a big batch of these sausages in only 35 minutes. The fresh herbs that you add make these sausages flavourful. 

2. Nourishing And Flavourful AIP Breakfast Bowl 

Just add and mix a number of vegetables, some fat, a slice of meat, and you just got yourself a fulfilling and nourishing bowl that keeps your taste buds happy. You can always add various flavours, and you can also change it up so that you don’t get bored. 

3. AIP Coconut Pancakes 

There is no other traditional breakfast, like pancakes! This recipe adds a fun twist to the traditional pancakes as it uses a mixture of coconut flour and cassava flour. In this recipe, almond or wheat flour is not used, making it an AIP appropriate. 

Coconut oil, along with coconut milk, is also used for this recipe. The coconut products are well-known in many AIP recipes. Coconut is a complimenting ingredient and can be used in recipes all of us love to make and eat. 

4. AIP Pumpkin Spice Waffles

The ingredients you will be needed for making these waffles are pumpkin spice (ground ginger, ground mace, and ground cinnamon), honey, pumpkin puree, gelatin, ghee, baking soda, hot or boiling water, cassava flour cream of tartar and salt.

This recipe of AIP pumpkin spice waffles proves that AIP doesn’t mean the food has to be spice-free. We use familiar ingredients in our pumpkin spice blend, creating a warming spice blend that skips the nightshades and seeds. 

5. AIP Strawberry Banana Smoothie

The ingredients that you will need are coconut milk, strawberries, MCT oil and bananas. This delicious and super simple AIP strawberry banana smoothie will become your favourite. 

6. AIP Sweet & Salted Granola 

The ingredients needed for this are raisins, dried blueberries, dried figs, unsweetened banana chips, dried apricots, unsweetened coconut, dried dates, dried strawberries, dried dates and dried raspberries. 

This granola is filled with dried fruits and is naturally sweet. It tastes amazing and looks super colourful. You can eat them just as they are or even with mixed, diluted coconut milk. 

7. Thick Coconut Yoghurt 

Homemade yoghurt is the go-to for people following the AIP diet and is working on healing their gut. This yoghurt is loaded with gut-promoting probiotics along with other nutritious ingredients like coconut water and coconut meat. 

8. Paleo Breakfast Cookies 

The ingredients you will need for these AIP Paleo cookies are apricots, lemon juice, raisins, dates, bananas, dried currants, dried coconut, cinnamon, and baking soda palm shortening, unsweetened applesauce and vanilla.

These AIP breakfast cookies taste heavenly, and you can add in some of your favourite fruits for extra variety. 

9. AIP Avocado Green Smoothie 

The ingredients needed for this smoothie is avocado, coconut milk, banana, ice and any greens that you like. 

With the kind of greens that you use, this recipe can be changed. This mix up will not make this smoothie monotonous for you. This smoothie is filled with good fats and nutrients which serves as a delicious and filling beverage. You can also add in some gelatin to this smoothie which will help heal your gut faster. 

10. AIP Strawberry Lime Shake

A strawberry milkshake sounds delicious! Frozen strawberries, full-fat coconut milk, lime juice, and you can also add coconut oil if you want the ingredients you need for this shake. 

This smoothie will make your taste buds happy, and you want to have this more than once. This smoothie is the ideal beverage for breakfast and lunch 

11. AIP Chicken Breakfast Casserole

Chicken breasts, cauliflower, fresh parsley, avocado oil, onion, salt, lemon juice, spinach, carrots, cauliflower and coconut cream – from the top of a refrigerated can of coconut milk – are the ingredients that you will need for this recipe. 

This AIP chicken casserole will become your new favourite, and you will want it every morning. We would suggest you make it ahead. 

12. AIP Ground Beef Breakfast Casserole 

Ground beef, avocado oil, onion, spinach, cauliflower, lemon juice, peaches ( or apples), fresh parsley, salt and coconut cream – from the top of a refrigerated can of coconut milk are the ingredients that you will need for this breakfast casserole. 

Breakfast casseroles are everyone’s favorite! They are easy to make and also keep your taste buds happy. Unlike pancakes, fried eggs, or waffles, a breakfast casserole will not have you cooking for hours in the kitchen. The best part about casseroles is that they are easy to make and are not boring. 

Pumpkin Bisque

Any traditional chef from Europe or the United States might define “bisque” as something which is a thick soup, especially one that is made from shellfish. Pumpkin Bisque or Pumpkin Soup is a usually ‘bound’ (thick) soup made from a purée of pumpkin. It is made by combining the meat of a blended pumpkin with broth or stock.It can be served hot or cold, and is a popular Thanksgiving dish in the United States.

Various versions of the dish are known in many European countries, the United States and other areas of North America, and in Australia.

Pumpkin Bisque is a quick and easy-to-make dinner time recipe. Just a few ingredients are required for this simple winter recipe and are packed with the warm flavors of pumpkin, garlic, onions, chicken broth, shredded cheese, and nutmeg. 

Basic Pumpkin Bisque Recipe

This creamy pumpkin bisque is easy to make and makes it a comfort food during winters. Here is the recipe of a traditional pumpkin bisque made with chicken broth. However, vegetarians can replace chicken broth with vegetable stock. Ingredients required for this recipe are as follows. 

Ingredients:

• Butter – 1 tbsp
• Onion – 1 large (chopped)
• Garlic – 4 cloves 
• Chicken broth – 2 cups 
• Pumpkin – Diced ( or canned/readymade) – 1 cup 
• Salt – to taste 
• Nutmeg – ¼ tsp
• Pepper – ¼ tsp 
• Whipped cream – 2 tbsp
• Cheese – shredded – ¼  cup

Procedure: 

1. Take a saucepan, add 1 tbsp of butter, and heat it. Add in the chopped onions and fry them till they are translucent.
2. Now add the garlic and saute them for a minute. Now add the chicken broth, salt, pepper, nutmeg powder, diced or canned pumpkin, and simmer for 15 mins.
3. Take the pan off of the stove and cool it down.
4. Now add it to a blender and blend it smooth.
5. Add this blended pumpkin mixture to the pan, add cream and simmer it for two minutes.
6. Now add the shredded cheese and serve it hot with a drizzle of cream on top. 

Savoury Pumpkin Bisque

Savoury pumpkin bisque recipe is made with chicken broth. This recipe is easy to make and takes only 30 minutes. Ingredients required for this recipe are as follows .

• 1/4 cup finely chopped white onion
• 1 tablespoon butter
• a can of pureed pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
• 1 box low sodium chicken stock
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• chopped parsley optional

Procedure:

1. Take a large, heavy-bottomed pot, saute onions in butter on medium heat until soft and slightly brown.
2. Stir in the pumpkin, and cook until warm.
3. Add the chicken stock, sea salt, pepper, sage, and lemon juice, cover, and cook on medium high heat until hot.
4. Turn heat to low, or turn the heat off and remove pot, and use an immersion blender to puree soup until smooth

Serve with fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Blending the soup is completely optional. However blending makes it velvety smooth and helps to accentuate the flavours of seasoning.

Vegetarian Pumpkin Bisque Recipes

Here are a few varieties of recipes for pumpkin bisque for vegetarians. Vegetarian pumpkin bisque recipes are made with a few modifications and replacements with the ingredients that are used in the traditional pumpkin bisque recipe.  However, in the traditional recipe of pumpkin bisque chicken broth is the main ingredient. 

1. Pumpkin Bisque with Coconut Milk 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
• 3 cups pumpkin cooked or canned
• 2 1/2  cups Vegetable stock homemade or good quality canned
• 1 tablespoon Coconut sugar optional may use brown sugar or maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
• 2 cups coconut milk unsweetened canned
• Ground nutmeg
• pumpkin seeds

Procedure:

1. Melt butter in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until golden.
2. Add fresh ginger and garlic. Saute an additional 3-4 minutes. Add pumpkin, vegetable stock, sugar, allspice, crushed red pepper, and ginger.
3. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Cover and simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.
4. Ladle the soup into a blender and puree until a smooth consistency.   Return the soup back to the pot and add coconut milk. 
5. Bring back to a simmer.  Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls.
6. Drizzle with a little coconut milk, a sprinkle of ground nutmeg, and a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds. Makes 4-6 servings.

2. Roasted Pumpkin and Vegetable Soup 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 white onion, roughly chopped
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 large carrot, sliced
• 1 sweet potato, diced
• 1/2 head of cauliflower, broken into florets
• avocado oil, optional
• 1 15 oz. can light coconut milk
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1. can puréed pumpkin 
• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• Himalayan sea salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
• 1tbsp cream
• Optional for serving: parsley, red pepper flakes

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add onion, carrots, cauliflower, and sweet potato to the pan.
2. Drizzle with optional avocado oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until sweet potato, is tender and the vegetables are lightly browned.
4. Now allow to cool slightly, then add to a high-speed blender with coconut milk, vegetable broth, pumpkin purée, turmeric, cream, and paprika.
5. Using a high-speed blender, blend until very smooth and creamy, stopping to recombine as needed.
6. Taste it, and adjust the seasoning if needed.
7. Pour mixture into a large saucepan and heat until warm throughout.

Serve immediately topped with pumpkin seeds, red pepper flakes, and parsley.

Vegan Pumpkin Bisque Recipes

Here are a few varieties of recipes for pumpkin bisque for vegans. Vegan pumpkin bisque recipes are made with a few modifications and replacements with the ingredients that are used in the traditional and vegetarian pumpkin bisque recipes.  However, in the traditional recipe of pumpkin bisque chicken broth and cream are the main ingredients.

1. Vegan Pumpkin Soup with Almond Milk

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin – 1 cup diced
• Maple syrup – ½ tsp 
• Nutmeg powder – ¼ tsp
• Coriander – a few leaves 
• Cumin powder – ½ tsp
• Almond Milk – 1 cup
• Vegetable broth – 2 cups 
• Almond butter – 1tbsp

Procedure:

1. Firstly, take a Dutch oven (or a similarly big, heavy-bottomed pot) and saute the cauliflower, onion, salt, and pepper.
2. Once they’re softened, stir in the garlic and additional spices for about 30 seconds.
3. Next, add in the vegetable stock, pumpkin, maple syrup, and almond butter.
4. Bring it all to a simmer and cook until the cauliflower is softened. Now, stir in your almond milk.
5. Now to puree the soup, use either an immersion blender or transfer small amounts to a blender (hot liquids splatter; only fill your blender about halfway).
6. Then, return the pureed soup back to your pot.

Lastly, garnish your soup with pumpkin seeds, chopped fresh parsley, pomegranate seeds, or any other toppings you desire. This simple vegan pumpkin soup is now ready to serve.

2. Vegan Pumpkin Cashew Soup

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon oil or butter (or both)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced finely
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 15 ounce can pure pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup roasted, salted cashews plus extra for garnishing
• 1/4 cup roasted, roasted pumpkin seeds for garnish
• dried parsley for garnishing

Procedure:

• In a large pot over medium-high heat, sauté onions in oil and butter until they are soft and translucent.
• Season the sauteed onions with salt and pepper.
• Then add minced garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more. Now turn the heat down to medium-low, and add vegetable broth and pumpkin to the pot, and stir to combine.
• Add turmeric, basil, and cumin. Let come to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
• Now add in 2 cups of the soup and 1/2 cup of cashews to a high powered blender. Be very careful to vent the top of the blender so that pressure can escape as it is blending!
• Blend the cashews and soup until smooth and creamy for about 30-45 seconds. If you want your soup to be very smooth in texture, you can blend the rest of the soup in batches as needed. If you want a little bit of texture from the onion pieces, just add the creamy cashew mixture back into the pot and stir to combine.
• Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Serve the soup into bowls, and garnish with roasted pumpkin seeds, chopped cashews. This vegan creamy cashew pumpkin soup is ready to serve.