Cooking With Zelda - Yeto's Soup from Twilight Princess

Eating - it's that thing you do with food when you're not gaming. Daniella Zelli however, the culinary magician behind Gourmet Gaming, had a simple idea - why not combine the two? As her introduction to the site so neatly puts it: "I love to play video games and I love to eat. Preferably at the same time. What's even better is eating the food from the game I'm playing while I'm playing it". Gourmet Gaming then is a delightful tribute to some of the most recognisable videogame foods, each one presented as an actual recipe. The site was born from an obsession with the mental Twin Peaks-referencing classic Deadly Premonition, but has since extended to take in the likes of GTA IV, Costume Quest and even, brilliantly, the meat from Golden Axe. It's her recipe for Yeto's Soup from Twilight Princess we are of course highlighting, given that it's Zelda November. Daniella has very kindly allowed us to reproduce the recipe here - it'll be a perfect accompaniment to this forthcoming chilly weekend that will largely be spent with Skyward Sword.

Before the food however comes the gaming; here Daniella discusses her favourite Zelda game with Moon Witch Cartridge. Time to get all misty-eyed:

Do you remember your first time? My first time I awoke washed up on a beach, so confused I couldn't even remember my name. I was ten years old.



The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (DX) is my favourite of all the Zelda games even though it's quite a departure from the traditional story-line. It doesn't feature Princess Zelda, Hyrule or even the Triforce, so for once it's about the player helping Link rather than Link helping Zelda. I'll admit it's so far removed I had no idea at the time that it was part of such an expansive series. With its dreamy and nightmarish narrative, Link's Awakening (or “Dreaming Island”) has an incredibly surreal, Lynch-ian atmosphere that features unique puzzles, numerous quests and side-scrolling elements.

It was in Link's Awakening that Link jumped for the very first time and that I played an Ocarina, explored a perilous dungeon, opened a chest only to hear that now famous melody and discovered secrets unlike any I had before. I distinctly remember the blue tones of the Mysterious Forest, the ominous purples that saturated each dungeon and the vibrant green of Link's tunic. It was certainly Link's Awakening that ushered in the new era of Zelda that we know and love today.

I've played Link's Awakening several times only to be bested, even now some 13 years later, by the final dungeon. And to be honest right now all I want to do is rummage in boxes to find my yellow Game Boy and attempt once more to wake up, pick up my shield and rediscover Koholint Island.


The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Yeto's Soup recipe



What you will need:
A large pot, grater, baking tray, frying pan, baking tray, blender or hand blender.

For the Soup:
50g / ¼ Cup Butter
300g / 0.7lbs Pumpkin (Skinned and Choppped)
200g / 0.5lbs Sweet Potato (Skinned and Chopped)
2 Shallots (Chopped)
1 Small Clove Garlic
½ Teaspoon Grated Ginger
500ml / 2 Cups Vegetable/Chicken Stock
1-2 Tablespoons Goats Cheese
70 ml / ½ Cup Cream
75g / ½ Cup Smoked Haddock
75g / ½ Cup Pollock
Salt & Pepper

For the Pumpkin Garnish:
3 Pumpkin Wedges
1 Tablespoon Butter
Salt & Pepper
½ Teaspoon Dried Chilli Flakes

For the Potato Croutons:
Olive Oil
1 Medium Potato
Salt & Pepper

For the Carrot Tops:
5 Small carrots (Stalks On)
1 Tablespoon Butter

Preparing the Soup:
1.In a large pot on a medium heat melt the butter. Add the shallots, garlic and ginger and cook until soft. Add the pumpkin and sweet potato chunks and stir well, allowing to cook for another 10 minutes.
2.Pour in the vegetable/chicken stock, bring to the boil and simmer until the pumpkin and sweet potato has cooked through. Once cooked transfer to a clean bowl and blend (or use a blender). Return the soup to a clean pot, if it’s too thick then slowly add more vegetable stock until the desired texture is achieved. Set the soup aside while you prepare the garnishes.

Making the Pumpkin Slices:
1.Preheat the oven to 200C/392F. Chop the pumpkin wedges into chunks and lay them onto a baking tray, cover with the butter, season and add the chilli flakes. Cook until soft and golden.

Making the Potato Croutons:
1.Dice the potato into small cubes and heat some olive oil in a frying pan on a medium heat. Add the potatoes and season to taste, fry until crisp and golden brown.

Making the Carrot Tops:
1.Heat the butter in a frying pan on a medium heat. Add the carrots and allow to cook until slightly soft.

Finishing the Soup:
1.In a warm frying pan add a little olive oil and heat. Add the smoked haddock and pollock and fry for 1 minute. Pour in the cream and season with salt and pepper, allow the fish to cook for about 5 minutes in the cream.
2.Once the fish has cooked pour the cream mixture into the pumpkin soup, add the goats cheese and stir gently. Warm the soup through on a low heat so the goats cheese can melt.
3.Serve and garnish with the potato croutons, roast pumpkin slices and glazed carrot tops.

...and enjoy!


- Be sure to visit gourmetgaming.co.uk for more delicious gaming nourishment. It's updated every Wednesday!