Source: dLife

An impressive mussel soup, thickened with fresh pumpkin and lightly seasoned.

Servings

2.25 lb Mussels, blue, raw, large
1.25 cup white wine
1 medium lemons
1 bay leaves
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onions , chopped
1 medium garlic cloves , crushed
1.5 lb fresh cubed pumpkin (or squash)
3.75 cup low sodium vegetable broth
2 tbsp fresh dill weed , chopped
1 pinch salt and pepper
1 medium lemons , cut in wedges, for garnish

1 Scrub the mussels in cold water and pull away the dark hairy beards protruding from the shells. Discard any open mussels, that do not shut when tapped sharply. Put the rest into a large pan and pour in the white wine.
2 Pare large pieces of rind from the lemon and squeeze the juice, then add both to the mussels with the bay leaf. Cover and bring to boil, cook 4-5 minutes, shaking the pan, until all mussels have opened.
3 Drain the mussels in a colander over a large bowl. Reserve the cooking liquid and the mussels.
4 Remove and discard the lemon rind and bay leaf, (and any mussels that have not opened).
5 Let mussels cool, set some aside in their shells to garnish. Remove the remaining mussels from their shells. Pour the reserved cooking liquid through a strained lined with cheesecloth to remove any sand or grit.
6 Heat the oil in a large clean pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened.
7 Peel the pumpkin, remove the seeds and pith and roughly chop into chunks. Add the pumpkin flesh and the strained mussel cooking liquid to the pan. Bring to the boil, and simmer uncovered for 5-6 minutes.
8 Pour in the vegetable stock and cook for 25-30 minutes, until pumpkin has almost disintegrated.
9 Cool the soup slightly, pour into a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
10 Return the soup to the rinsed pan and season well. Stir in the chopped dill and the shelled mussels, then bring just to the boil.
11 Ladle the soup into warmed soup plates and garnish with the reserved mussel in their shells. Place lemon wedges with the soup.

An elegant soup ideal for a special dinner party.