Easy Creamy European-Style Pumpkin Soup

European-style pumpkin soup is a dish that’s both delicious and nutritious, suitable for adults and children alike. With a simple recipe and easy-to-find ingredients, you can easily make this soup at home.

Bowl of creamy European-style pumpkin soup

How to Choose the Best Pumpkin for Soup

Selecting a quality pumpkin is crucial for achieving the perfect soup flavor. Here are some tips for buying pumpkins:

• Choose pumpkins with a deep orange color and hard rinds.
• The pumpkin should feel heavy for its size and be free from bruises or soft spots.
• Prioritize pumpkins with a stem about 2cm long, as they are often fresher and last longer.
• The skin should be smooth, without cracks or rough patches.
• Pumpkins with an indented bottom are often sweeter and tastier.

Selecting fresh pumpkins with stems and smooth rinds

Ingredients Needed

• 1 pumpkin
• 10g parsley
• 50g celery
• 10g rosemary
• 10g fresh thyme leaves
• 100g onion
• 50g butter
• 100ml chicken broth
• 80ml milk

Fresh ingredients for pumpkin soup: pumpkin, herbs, onion, butter

Steps to Make European-Style Pumpkin Soup

Step 1: Prepare the Pumpkin and Other Ingredients

• Wash the whole pumpkin thoroughly. Cut a small opening at the top and scoop out the seeds and pulp.
• Wash the celery, parsley, thyme leaves, and rosemary. Chop them roughly and set aside to drain.
• Wash the onion. Cut most of it into small wedges. Finely dice about 1 tablespoon.

Cleaned and chopped celery, parsley, thyme, and rosemary

Step 2: Roast the Pumpkin

• Place all the chopped celery, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and onion wedges inside the hollowed-out pumpkin.
• Preheat your oven to 250°C (480°F) and roast the pumpkin for 30 minutes, or until it’s soft. (If you don’t have an oven, you can steam the pumpkin instead).
• Once cooked, carefully remove all the herbs and onion from inside the pumpkin. Use a spoon to scoop out the soft pumpkin flesh into a separate bowl.

Pumpkin stuffed with herbs ready for roasting

Step 3: Sauté the Pumpkin

• Place a pan over medium heat. Add 5g of butter and let it melt. Add the 1 tablespoon of diced onion and sauté until fragrant.
• Add all the scooped-out pumpkin flesh to the pan. Pour in 100ml of chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Season with a pinch of salt, then remove the pan from the heat.

Sautéing pumpkin flesh with butter and onions

Step 4: Blend the Pumpkin

• After sautéing, transfer the pumpkin mixture to a blender. Blend until it becomes very smooth and creamy.

Blending the pumpkin mixture until smooth for a creamy soup

Step 5: Finish the Soup

• Pour the blended pumpkin puree back into a pot. Place it over low heat.
• Add 80ml of milk and stir everything together well. Continue heating gently until the soup just comes to a simmer, then turn off the heat immediately.

Finishing and Serving

• Ladle the hot pumpkin soup into bowls. You can garnish with a little freshly chopped parsley for color and extra flavor. The soup should be smooth, creamy, and rich, featuring the characteristic taste of pumpkin and milk.
• European-style pumpkin soup pairs wonderfully with crispy toasted bread for dipping.

Finished bowl of creamy European-style pumpkin soup, garnished

Conclusion

Making European-style pumpkin soup is not only straightforward but also provides excellent nutritional benefits, making it suitable for everyone. Try this recipe to treat your family and friends to this delicious and wholesome soup!

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