Soup & Bread: The ultimate autumn lunch
This autumn, Sarah Thompson of Sussex Kitchen is sharing a collection of recipes that celebrate the heroes of the Sussex harvest: apple and pumpkin. These recipes are designed to be kind to your wallet, full of flavour, and hearty enough to satisfy even the most traditional of appetites. This is a guide to cooking with joy, supporting our community and feeding our families brilliantly.
Spiced Apple & Butternut Squash Soup
This vibrant soup combines the best of the season’s flavours. The sweetness of the squash and apple is balanced by warming spices, creating a comforting and healthy meal. It’s perfect for making in a large batch and freezing for a quick lunch.
Serves: 4
Estimated cost per serve: £0.90 – £1.10
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp Sussex rapeseed oil
- 1 large onion
- 500 g butternut squash
- 2 eating apples
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 litre vegetable stock.
Method:
- Sauté the onion, squash, and apples until soft. Stir in the spices.
- Add the stock, simmer for 20 minutes, then blend until smooth.
Freezing Tip: Allow the soup to cool completely before pouring it into airtight containers. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight or heat gently from frozen.
Pumpkin and Apple Soda Bread
This quick-to-make bread requires no proving and is perfect with our suggested soup. The pumpkin makes it incredibly moist, and the apple adds a hint of sweetness.
Makes: 1 loaf
Estimated cost per loaf: £1.50 – £1.80
Ingredients:
- 450 g plain flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 200 ml buttermilk
- 100 g pumpkin puree
- 1 eating apple
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C.
- Mix all the dry. In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk, pumpkin puree, and grated apple.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix to form a soft. Do not overwork.
- Shape into a round loaf, cut a cross on top and bake for 30 minutes.
Freezing Tip: Soda bread is best eaten fresh, but you can slice it and freeze the slices in a freezer bag. Simply toast from frozen for a quick and easy breakfast. It will keep for up to 1 month.
Cheese Board Suggestion: This soda bread is the perfect partner to a Sussex cheese board. The simple flavours of the bread complement both sharp and creamy cheeses beautifully. We suggest including a strong cheddar like Sussex Charmer, a creamy cheese like Brighton Blue, and a hard cheese such as Lord of the Hundreds.
Sarah Thompson is a food and travel photographer, writer and stylist. You can find her at https://sussexkitchen.co.uk and at @sussexkitchen
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