Pumpkin Soup

This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!

Pumpkin soup

Some recipes should be kept simple as nature intended them to be, and in my opinion, Pumpkin Soup is one of those dishes. The natural flavour of pumpkin is good enough that you need very little to make a beautiful, creamy, full flavoured soup. And while sometimes it’s nice to have a dolled up version with all the bells and whistles, 99% of the time, this simple recipe is how I make it. It’s just a great EASY Pumpkin Soup recipe, a classic version that has everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t to be can’t-stop-eating-it delicious! The secret ingredients to make pumpkin soup tastier is onion and garlic!

What goes in Pumpkin Soup

To make this great quick and easy pumpkin soup, you will need:

Pumpkin – Peeled and chopped into large chunks (or purchase it pre-cut). See below for the best pumpkin to use and recipe notes for canned pureed pumpkin option;Onion and garlic – the secret ingredients that adds extra savouriness into the soup flavour!!Stock/broth and water – for a tastier pumpkin soup, don’t skip the broth!Milk, cream or half and half stirred through at the end. Here’s my view on cream. Does it make it better? Yes, insofar as adding richness to the soup. Is it necessary? Absolutely not. You do NOT need cream to make the soup thicker. All the thickness comes from the pumpkin itself. I usually make Pumpkin Soup with milk instead.

If you don’t have cream but want extra richness in your soup, just add a touch of butter!

Do you have to peel pumpkin for soup?

Yes, you do. The skin is too tough and won’t puree properly so you’ll end up with hard bits in the soup.

Best pumpkin for pumpkin soup

Use any type of eating pumpkin you want OR butternut squash (which is called butternut pumpkin in Australia). DO NOT use Halloween carving pumpkin used to make Jack-O-Laterns. While they are edible, they are not that tasty! US: sugar pumpkin or butternut squash. Australia: common ideal types include Jap/Kent, Jarradale, Queensland Blue or Butternut Pumpkin (which is called butternut squash in the US) If you’re not a fan of chopping and peeling pumpkin, try my No-Chop Roasted Pumpkin Soup!

How to make pumpkin soup from scratch

The secret ingredients are the garlic and onion. It makes all the difference to add extra savouriness!

How to add flavours to pumpkin soup

While plain pumpkin soup is my favourite and the way I serve it most often, sometimes it’s nice to change things up by adding other flavours! Here are a few suggestions:

Curried pumpkin soup – stir in a touch of curry powder once you blitz it, add little by littleThai red curry – start by sautéing 2 tbsp red curry paste in 1/2 tbsp oil over medium heat. Cook for 2 minutes until really fragrant, then proceed with recipe ie add liquids and pumpkin etc. Then instead of using cream, use coconut cream. Garnish with coriander/cilantro. SO GOOD!Ginger– saute 1 tbsp finely chopped ginger in 1/2 tbsp oil or butter, then proceed with recipe.Lightly Spiced – stir in 1/2 tsp each cumin, coriander and smoked paprika.Turmeric – 1 1/2 tsp each ground turmeric, coriander and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Storing pumpkin soup

Pumpkin soup will keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days, or can be frozen for 3 months – just thaw then reheat using your chosen method. If your soup is too thick, just loosen it with a touch of water when reheating. If it’s too thin (unlikely, but could happen!), then just simmer on the stove for a while to let it reduce – this will thicken it.

Soup Dunkers

A soup this thick and creamy demands bread for dunking! Try one of these: 4 steps. A bit of chopping, plonk it all in a pot, blitz, season then serve. A thick and creamy pumpkin soup that’s full of flavour. Sweet pumpkin flavour, savouriness from the broth, garlic and onion. You’ll be mopping up every last bit of this with your bread!! – Nagi x

Watch how to make it

This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!

Originally published June 2014, photos replaced in 2018, brand new improved video added in September 2019, minor housekeeping 2020 (no change to recipe).