Sun on a Plate: How to Make Silky Pumpkin Cream Soup

From our largest berry (in botanical terms), you can whip up delicious, fragrant, vibrant, and healthy soups, salads, cereals, side dishes, desserts, and drinks. In particular, pumpkin cream soup is packed with fiber, essential minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, E, and B, which boost immunity, improve vision, rejuvenate skin, strengthen the cardiovascular system, enhance digestion, and aid in weight loss. It’s both nutritious and low in calories: the calorie content of pumpkin cream soup ranges from 50 to 130 kcal per 100 grams, depending on the ingredients.

Ingredients: pumpkin – 800 g; tomato – 1 piece; onion – 1 piece; bell pepper – 1 piece; cream – 500 ml; water – 500 ml; oil – 30 ml; garlic – 2 cloves; ground paprika – 1 tsp; salt – 1/2 tsp.

Preparation

To make this oven-roasted pumpkin cream soup, roast the vegetables you’ll puree. Peel the pumpkin, remove the skin and seeds, and cut the flesh into pieces. Cut the tomato, onion, and bell pepper into several pieces. Place the prepared vegetables on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil, and roast for 40 minutes at 180°C (350°F).

Transfer the roasted vegetables to a pot and blend them until smooth. Add water to thin the puree, place the pot over medium heat, season with salt, pepper, and ground paprika, then stir in the cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat immediately to avoid boiling. Serve the soup garnished with pumpkin seeds, croutons, or fresh herbs.

Life Hack

Make a chicken version using the same ingredients but substitute carrots for the red pepper. Prepare chicken broth, cook the chopped vegetables in it, and blend until smooth; add cream and spices. Cook the chicken separately and serve it cut into pieces.

Make the soup without cream by following the same sequence. Replace the cream with meat broth, olive oil, milk, sour cream, or cheese. For a pumpkin-and-cheese cream soup, add potatoes and processed cheese and stir the cheese into the nearly finished dish so it melts through.

For more pumpkin recipes, check out our delicious archive:

Photo: Unsplash