Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeFoodPumpkin Soup Recipe

Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Sweet, savory, and easy-to-make, this Pumpkin Soup recipe is one you’ll come back to time and again. Made with fewer than 10 ingredients in just 30 minutes using only one pot, this speedy soup is perfect for busy weeknights. The slightly sweet, earthy flavor of the yellow pumpkin, along with the added herbs and spices, makes this a comforting and satisfying soup.

pumpkin soup topped with cheese and served in a blue soup mug with a blue spoon on a dark blue wooden board

About Pumpkin Soup Recipe

This easy-to-prepare delicious soup is made with the mellow, slightly sweet yellow pumpkin. Similar to my creamy Bottle Gourd Soup recipe I shared some years back, this pumpkin soup recipe is simply made in a European or American fashion and doesn’t use any Indian spices.

Unlike many squash soup recipes that are filled with heavy cream and butter, this gluten-free pumpkin soup is light and healthy so you don’t feel weighed down after eating it. In fact, if you leave out the oil, this soup is a non-fat dish!

Despite having a creamy consistency, this soup is plant based. That said, I do like to garnish it with a thin drizzle of cream and a light dusting of vegetarian parmesan cheese for a bit of a heartier flavor.

Plus, the color contrast is too pretty to ignore. If you are allergic to dairy or vegan, feel free to finish it with an extra drizzle of olive oil or coconut cream instead.

I made this recipe using fresh pumpkin and used my stove-top pressure cooker for the step-by-step photos below. In the video, a pan is used to cook the pumpkins.

Feel free to use an Instant Pot instead, or if you live somewhere where you can buy 100% pure canned pumpkin, you can skip the process of peeling, chopping, and cooking the pumpkin altogether.

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Pumpkin – This will work for any orange-fleshed gourd variety that you prefer. Sugar pumpkins are traditional, but butternut squash, cushaw pumpkins, or even sweet potatoes will work here.
  • Onion – Any color will work, but I prefer the mild sweetness of red onions. You can also swap in leeks or shallots if you prefer.
  • Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves will give the best flavor, but you can easily substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder for every clove of fresh.
  • Olive Oil – If you are on an oil-free diet, feel free to omit the EVOO. Otherwise, I find that just a little bit gives this soup a more luscious mouthfeel without any guilt. After all, olive oil is heart healthy! Feel free to swap in sunflower oil or butter if you prefer.
  • Dry Oregano & Dry Thyme – Dried herbs are more potent by weight than their fresh counterparts. If you are subbing in fresh herbs, multiply the amount you use by 3.
  • Sugar – Depending on how sweet your pumpkin is, you might want just a smidge of sugar to help balance out the flavors. Feel free to sub in maple syrup, agave nectar, or even grated jaggery if needed.

Step-by-Step Guide

How To Make Pumpkin Soup

This simple pumpkin soup recipe comes together in just 30 minutes. Here’s how it’s done:

Cook Pumpkin

1. Rinse, peel, and chop 250 grams of pumpkin in cubes. Also, chop 1 medium-sized onion and 1 to 2 small garlic cloves.

chopped pumpkin cubes in a colander.

2. Add the pumpkin cubes, chopped onions, and garlic to a 2-litre stovetop pressure cooker.

pumpkin cubes, onions and garlic in a pressure cooker.

3. Now add ¾ to 1 cup of water. For a thicker pumpkin soup, add less water.

water added.

4. Cover and pressure cook on medium heat for 8 to 9 minutes.

If you are using an Instant Pot, pressure cook on high for 5 to 7 minutes. Give a quick release (QR) after 5 to 6 minutes.

Note: If you do not have a pressure cooker or Instant Pot, feel free to cook the pumpkin cubes in a covered pan. Add 1.5 cups water or as required if cooking in a pan and be prepared for it to take 20 to 30 minutes to cook fully. (Check the recipe video to see the steps for cooking this soup in a pan).

ingredients being pressure cooked.

Purée the Ingredients

5. When the pressure drops naturally in the cooker, then only open the lid. Let the pumpkin mixture cool to warm.

ingredients after cooking.

6. Then with a hand-held mixer or immersion blender, blend the whole mixture. You can also blend the mixture in a blender or grinder jar.

Caution: Do not blend when hot as the mixture will splutter.

blending the pumpkin soup with hand beaters.

7. Blend until smooth, or you can keep the soup slightly chunky if you want.

ingredients blended to a smooth consistency.

Season Pumpkin Soup

8. Now put the cooker back on the stovetop on a low heat. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of olive oil or your fat of choice, if using.

olive oil being added to blended pumpkin soup.

9. Mix very well.

olive oil mixed in.

10. Then add ¼ teaspoon oregano and ½ teaspoon thyme and crushed black pepper powder as required. Feel free to use your own favorite herb blend here.

dried herbs and crushed black pepper added.

11. Season with salt to taste.

salt being added.

12. Mix well.

salt and herbs mixed in.

13. If needed, add ½ teaspoon raw sugar (optional). If the pumpkin is already sweet, then you can skip this step.

sugar being added.

14. Stir well. Let the soup come to a gentle simmer till it becomes hot. Then switch off the heat.

pumpkin soup simmering.

15. Serve pumpkin soup hot. This pumpkin soup can also be served chilled if you prefer.

pumpkin soup topped with cheese and served in a blue soup mug with a blue spoon on a dark blue wooden board.

Serving Suggestions

This pumpkin soup makes for a light dinner and I love serving it with a slice of warm toasted bread or a baguette. It also works great as a side, pairing it with a pasta dish like Spaghetti Bolognese or Red Sauce Pasta, a light salad, or Grilled Sandwich.

While this lovely and simple pumpkin soup is delightful just as it is, there are a few ways you can garnish it up:

  • Garnish with some grated cheese or a drizzle of cream for a bit of added richness. For the cheese, you can use cheddar, gruyere, or vegetarian parmesan cheese.
  • Add a sprinkling of fresh herbs for a pop of color.
  • Top with crunchy croutons for a bit of texture.

Cooking Pumpkin

  • Cooking pumpkin in a pan or pot: To cook pumpkins in a pan, add 1.5 cups water or as required and cook the pumpkin cubes, onions, garlic etc in covered pan until the pumpkin cubes have softened. You can check the video in which the pumpkins are cooked in a pan.
  • Cooking pumpkin in Instant Pot: Add all the chopped pumpkins, onions, garlic and water in the steel insert of the Instant Pot. Seal the lid and position the steam valve to the sealing position.

    Pressure cook on high for 5 to 7 minutes. Give a quick release (QR) after 5 to 6 minutes. Then blend the ingredients.

    Add the herbs and seasonings. Press the sauté button and simmer for some minutes stirring often until you get the desired consistency.

FAQs

Is pumpkin soup healthy?

Yes it is. Pumpkins are loaded with vitamins and minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. The rest of the ingredients for this soup are equally healthy – garlic, onions, herbs, and a touch of heart-healthy olive oil. I can’t see how this would be considered anything but super nutritious!

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Absolutely! As with most soups, it does well to hang out in the fridge for a bit for the flavors to meld. Once cooked, it should be consumed within few hours.

Is there anything I can use instead of pumpkin?

Sure! This recipe will work equally well with butternut squash or sweet potatoes.

How can I make my soup thicker or thinner?

If your soup is too thick, simply add more water or veggie broth to thin it out. If it is too thin, simmer it with the lid off stirring occasionally until it reaches your preferred consistency.

Is this recipe scalable?

Yep! Scale it up or down as according to your needs.

More Delish Soup Recipes!

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more veetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

pumpkin soup recipe

Pumpkin Soup Recipe

This Pumpkin Soup Recipe gives you an easy and tasty homemade pumpkin soup all made in one-pot. The slightly sweet, earthy flavor of the yellow pumpkin, along with added herbs and spices, gives this soup a satisfyingly sweet and savory taste. 

5 from 9 votes

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 30 mins

For cooking pumpkin

Other ingredients

For garnish

Cooking pumpkin

  • Rinse, peel and chop pumpkin in cubes. Also onion and the garlic cloves.

  • Add the pumpkin cubes, chopped onions and garlic in a 2-litre stovetop pressure cooker.

  • Now add ¾ to 1 cup water. For a thicker soup add less water.

  • Cover and pressure cook on medium heat for 8 to 9 minutes. If you do not have a pressure cooker, then you can even cook the pumpkin cubes in a pan. Add water as required if cooking in a pan.

  • When the pressure drops naturally on its own in the cooker, then only open the lid. Let the pumpkin mixture become warm.

  • Then with an hand held mixer or beater, blend the whole mixture. You can even add the mixture in a blender or grinder jar and then blend to a fine and smooth puree. Do not blend when hot as then the mixture splutters.
  • Blend till smooth and fine. You can keep the soup slightly chunky if you want.

Making pumpkin soup

  • Now keep the cooker back on stovetop on a low to medium heat. Add olive oil. Adding olive oil is optional and you can skip it completely. You can even add butter or sunflower oil instead of olive oil.
  • Mix very well.

  • Then add oregano, thyme and crushed black pepper as required.

  • Add sugar (optional) and salt as per taste. 

  • Mix well. if the pumpkin is sweet, then skip adding sugar.

  • Let the soup come to a gentle simmer till it becomes hot. Then switch off the heat.

  • Serve pumpkin soup hot or warm.

Serving suggestions

  • Enjoy pumpkin soup as a light dinner. I like to serve it with a slice of warm toasted bread or a baguette. It also works great as a side, pairing it with a mixed veggie pasta dish, light salad or grilled veggie sandwich.

  • While serving you can garnish the soup with some grated cheese, herbs, bread croutons, crushed black pepper, cream or all of the above. You can serve the soup hot, warm or even chilled.

Scaling, storage & make ahead

  • You can make the soup a few hours earlier and refrigerate to be eaten on the same day. Reheat before serving and if required mix in some stock or water if the soup looks very thick. Reheat in a saucepan.

  • Any leftover can be refrigerated for a day only.

  • Easily scale the soup recipe to make for more servings.

  • Cooking pumpkin in a pot: Add 1.5 cups water or as required and cook the pumpkin cubes, onions etc in covered pan until the pumpkin cubes have softened. 
  • Cooking pumpkin in Instant Pot: Pressure cook the ingredients on high for 5 to 7 minutes. Seal the lid and position the steam valve to the sealing position. Pressure cook on high for 5 to 7 minutes. Give a quick release (QR) after 5 to 6 minutes. Blend the cooked ingredients. Mix in the herbs and seasonings. Use the sauté function and simmer soup for some minutes until you get the desired consistency.
  • Pumpkin: You can make the soup with any edible variety of pumpkin. I suggest to use yellow pumpkins or sugar pumpkins. But you can use your favorite variety of pumpkin as well. The color of the soup will vary with the type of pumpkin used in making it. 
  • Herbs: Both dried herbs and fresh herbs can be added in the recipe. You can add your choice of herbs.
  • Vegan option: For a vegan option, skip adding cheese as a garnish. 
  • Scaling: Make a large batch of this soup easily by doubling or tripling the ingredients.

Nutrition Facts

Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 224 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 9mg3%

Sodium 1231mg54%

Potassium 1162mg33%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 27242IU545%

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%

Vitamin B6 1mg50%

Vitamin B12 1µg17%

Vitamin C 34mg41%

Vitamin E 5mg33%

Vitamin K 20µg19%

Calcium 141mg14%

Vitamin B9 (Folate) 61µg15%

Iron 3mg17%

Magnesium 44mg11%

Phosphorus 199mg20%

Zinc 1mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Like what you see?

Stay up to date with new recipes and ideas.

This Pumpkin Soup recipe from the archives, originally published in August 2017 has been updated and republished on January 2023.

Source: Dassana’s Veg Recipes
RELATED ARTICLES

Chicken Cutlet Recipe

Mango Thandai

Thandai Kalakand

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Recent Comments