Week 4: October 30, 2025
WEEK 2 MENU
Pumpkin Soup with Flour Dumplings
CELEBRATING HIBISCUS
Jamaican Sorrel
KITCHEN SCIENCE
Fat Separation: Coconut Milk
In the Kitchen with Alex Booker
TOOLS
Chef knife
Cutting board
Stock pot
Large bowl
Measuring cup
Can opener
Jamaican Pumpkin Soup
Serves 6-8 | cook time 45 mins | prep time 20 mins
INGREDIENTS
Soup
10 cup water
6 cloves garlic, crushed
6-8 whole pimento seeds or allspice berries
1 medium pumpkin
1-2 ears of corn, cut into chunks
1 large carrot, sliced
1 small sweet potato, cut into chunks
1 med cayote squash, peeled and sliced
1 med turnip, cut into small chunks
2 stalk celery
1 onion, cut into wedges
6-8 sprigs thyme
2 stalks green onion, diced
6 flour dumpling, see below for ingredients
1 whole scotch bonnet, habanero or jalapeno pepper (optional)
1-2 vegetable bouillon
2 tsp salt, more or less to taste
1 tsp black pepper
1 15oz can coconut milk
Flour Dumpling
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup water, more or less may be needed
1/4 tsp salt
METHOD
In a large stockpot, bring to rapid boil 10 cups of water and add garlic and pimento. Then add pumpkin and corn and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until pumpkin softened and tender.
When pumpkin has softened into the soup and water turns an orange color, add the remaining ingredients: carrot, yam, cayote, turnip, celery, onion, thyme, green onion, dumplings and scotch bonnet pepper. Allow to boil for 15 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium and stir in coconut milk, then add vegetable bouillon(s), seasoned salt and black pepper. Taste and adjust if necessary; allow to simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes. Remove scotch bonnet pepper and thyme sprigs, serve while hot and enjoy!
Flour Dumpling
In a medium mixing bowl, add flour and salt then gradually add water and use your hand to knead and form the dough for the dumpling. Dough should be soft but not sticky and wet.
Pinch or cut off 6 equal sized pieces. In the palm of your hand using a circular motion, form each piece into a ball, flatten slightly, and fold the edges of the dough into the center creating small round wheels. Set each dumpling aside.
HIBISCUS:
Jamaican Sorrel
KITCHEN SCIENCE:
Fat Separation: Coconut Milk
Extended Exploration
Check out this video about pumpkin farming in Jamaica!