PUMPKIN AND BROCCOLI CHOWDER

3 tablespoons butter or corn oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon tamari/shoyu soy sauce
1 ripe tomato, diced
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock, divided use
4 cups fresh pumpkin puree (or 4 cups fresh butternut puree or 4 cups canned pumpkin puree)
1 tablespoon(s) maple syrup or honey
salt and pepper to taste
1 bunch broccoli
1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy (whipping) cream

Cut the tops of the broccoli into small flowerets; julienne the stems into strips roughly 1/4x1 inches.

In a 10-inch skillet, melt the butter or heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and saute slowly until almost limp but not brown, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Add the tamari/shoyu soy sauce and the tomato. Cook, stirring often, until the tomato's juice has evaporated, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the saute to a soup pot. Deglaze the saute pan with a little of the stock, and add the pan contents, plus the remainder of the stock, to the soup pot. Add the pumpkin or squash puree, the maple syrup or honey, salt, and a touch of freshly ground black pepper. Heat, stirring often.

Separately, in a small pot with a tightly fitting lid, steam the broccoli flowerets and stems until tender-crisp (they should be a bright green), about 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir the steamed broccoli into the soup, then stir in the cream. Let the soup cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot and the flavors have blended, 8 to 10 minutes. Do not let the soup boil.

Serve hot.

VARIATION:
By adding some diced cooked potatoes with the broccoli it will serve 4 as an entree.

Serves 8 as a first course
Adapted from unknown source