Pumpkin puree soup is a warm, comforting dish that's perfect for fall and winter. It's creamy, rich, and can be made with just a few simple ingredients. Here’s a classic recipe for a delicious pumpkin puree soup:
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or butter)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree (or 2 cups homemade pumpkin puree)
- 3 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for a dairy-free option)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey (optional, for added sweetness)
- Croutons, pumpkin seeds, or fresh herbs (for garnish)
Instructions:
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Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic, chopped carrot, and celery, and cook for another 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
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Add Spices: Stir in the ground cumin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until the spices are fragrant.
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Add Pumpkin and Broth: Stir in the pumpkin puree and vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the vegetables to become tender.
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Blend Soup: Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can carefully transfer the soup in batches to a blender. Blend until smooth, then return the soup to the pot.
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Finish and Season: Stir in the heavy cream or coconut milk. Add salt and pepper to taste. If you like a slightly sweeter soup, stir in the maple syrup or honey.
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Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with croutons, pumpkin seeds, or fresh herbs like parsley or thyme.
Tips:
- Roasted Pumpkin: For extra flavor, you can use roasted pumpkin. Simply roast chunks of pumpkin in the oven until tender and blend with the broth.
- Texture: Adjust the thickness of the soup by adding more or less broth. If you prefer a thicker soup, use less broth.
- Spice Level: Customize the spices to your taste. You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat or experiment with other spices like ginger or turmeric.
Enjoy your creamy and flavorful pumpkin puree soup—it's a perfect, cozy dish for chilly days!
