Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Soup is one of my favourite soups. It is so rich and sweet and is a beautiful orange, appealing colour. It goes down a treat, particularly when served with buttered bread or toast. Great for those cold nights in as a complete meal or as a starter before a meal.

And all you need for my simple Pumpkin Soup recipe is pumpkin, either bought from the supermarket or grown yourself. Add stock or water, and I like to add some onion for extra flavour and sometimes a potato or two to make it thicker and go further.

This is also a great recipe for travellers, backpackers and campers because it is made in one pot and uses minimal ingredients. If you are fighting over cooking equipment in a hostel kitchen, making it in a hotel room, in your van or on the camping stove, pumpkin soup is an easy and nutritious meal to make.

 

Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Soup

 

• Simple to make – there aren’t lots of ingredients or complicated steps. 
• One-pot meal – everything is cooked together in one pot. 
• Budget-friendly – pumpkin, potatoes, onion and stock are all simple ingredients. 
• Great for cold days – a warm bowl of pumpkin soup is very comforting. 
• Easy to adapt – use vegetable, chicken or beef stock depending on what you have. 
• Good for travellers – you only need basic cooking equipment. 
• Easy to serve – add cream and black pepper, or simply enjoy it with bread or toast. 

 

What is Pumpkin Soup?

 

Pumpkin Soup is a smooth soup made by cooking pumpkin with other vegetables and stock until everything is soft, then blending it until smooth. Almost runny but not runny like a broth.

There are many ways to make Pumpkin Soup. Some recipes add spices, coconut milk or cream, but this version is deliberately simple. Pumpkin, potatoes, onion and stock are all you need to make a hearty soup.

The potatoes also help make the soup thicker and more filling.

 

Ingredients and Substitutions

 

·      Pumpkin – The original recipe uses half a butternut pumpkin, chopped or diced. Butternut pumpkin works particularly well because it becomes soft and smooth when cooked and has a naturally sweet flavour. If you’re travelling, you can use another type of pumpkin if that is what is available.
·      Potatoes – 1-2 potatoes are optional, chopped or diced. Potatoes help make the soup more filling and give it a thicker consistency.
·      Onion – One chopped onion adds extra flavour to the soup.
·      Stock – Use 1 litre of vegetable stock. You can use chicken or beef to add flavour. If you don’t have stock available, you can simply use water.
·      Cream – Cream is optional and can be added when serving. You don’t need cream to make the soup, so it can easily be left out when travelling.
·      Black Pepper – Black pepper is optional and can be added to taste.

 

Equipment Required

 

• Chopping knife 
• Chopping board 
• Large saucepan or cooking pot and a spoon to stir with
• Hand blender or masher or fork 
• Bowl and spoon for eating 

If you are travelling or camping, a saucepan and some type of blender are all you really need for cooking and blending the soup.

 

How to Make Pumpkin Soup While Travelling, Backpacking or Camping

 

Pumpkin Soup is a good traveller meal because it can all be made in one pot.

Chop the vegetables, add them to the pot with the stock and cook until soft. Once cooked, blend everything until smooth.

If you are camping and don’t have a hand blender, you can still make the soup. You will need another suitable way to mash the cooked vegetables such as with a masher or fork. Alternatively, you can leave the vegetables chunky and enjoy it as a rustic vegetable soup.

When travelling, you can also leave out the optional cream and simply serve the soup with bread or toast.

 

How to Cook Pumpkin Soup

 

1. Prepare the vegetables. Chop or dice the butternut pumpkin, potatoes and onion. 
2. Add everything to the pot. Place the chopped vegetables into a saucepan and add 1 litre of stock. If you don’t have stock, water can be used instead. 
3. Cook the vegetables. Bring the liquid to a boil, then continue cooking until the pumpkin and potatoes are soft. 
4. Blend the soup. Use a hand blender to blend the cooked vegetables and liquid until you reach your preferred soup consistency. 
5. Serve. Pour the soup into bowls and add a dollop of cream and some black pepper if desired. 
6. Add bread or toast. Serve with buttered bread or toast if you like. 

 

Tips for Making Pumpkin Soup

 

Cut the vegetables into similar-sized pieces. This helps them cook more evenly. Also, make them small as the small the veggies are means they will take less time to cook. And be easier to mash.

Don’t worry about perfect chopping. Everything will be blended at the end, so there is no need to spend too much time making the pieces look perfect.

Cook until the pumpkin is soft. The pumpkin and potatoes need to be tender before blending.

Adjust the consistency. If the soup is too thick, add a little extra stock or water. If it is too thin, continue simmering for a little longer.

Taste before serving. Depending on the stock you use, you may or may not need extra seasoning.

Cream is optional. The soup is still delicious without it.

Grated Parmeson cheese and black pepper on top are also optional.

 

Serving Ideas

 

Pumpkin Soup is lovely served with:

• Buttered bread 
• Toast 
• Crusty bread 
• Garlic bread 
• A dollop of cream 
• Freshly ground black pepper 
• Parmeson cheese

 

For travellers, buttered bread or toast is an easy choice because it requires very little preparation.

 

What to Do With Leftover Pumpkin Soup

 

If you have leftover soup, allow it to cool and store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. You can travel with the soup, just ensure the container lid is on tight!

Reheat it before serving.

The soup may become a little thicker after sitting in the refrigerator. Simply add a little water or stock while reheating if needed.

If you’re travelling or camping without refrigeration, it is better to make only the amount you expect to eat.

 

Best Pumpkin to Use for Pumpkin Soup

 

This recipe uses butternut pumpkin, which is a great choice because it has a naturally sweet flavour and blends into a smooth soup.

However, you can use other types of pumpkin if that is what you have available. When travelling, there is no need to search for a particular variety, use what is available to you.

 

FAQs

 

Can I make Pumpkin Soup without stock?

Yes. The original recipe specifically allows you to use water if you don’t have stock available.

Do I have to use butternut pumpkin?

No. Butternut pumpkin is used in this recipe, but other suitable cooking pumpkins can also be used.

Do I need to add cream?

No. Cream is optional and is simply added when serving.

Can I make Pumpkin Soup while camping?

Yes. The soup is made in one pot and only requires basic cooking equipment. A hand blender is useful for getting the smooth consistency.

What if I don’t have a hand blender?

You can mash the cooked vegetables with another suitable utensil, although the soup may not be quite as smooth. You can also leave the vegetables chunky for a more rustic soup.

Can I use water instead of stock?

Yes. If you don’t have stock available, water can be used.

How can I make the soup thicker?

Allow it to simmer a little longer after blending. The potatoes will also naturally help thicken the soup.

What can I serve with Pumpkin Soup?

Buttered bread or toast is a simple choice and is how I like to serve it. Crusty bread or garlic bread also works well.