Toasty Roasted Pumpkin Soup is a low-maintenance version of the comforting classic. Made with simple, low-cost ingredients, this winter warmer is perfect for making a big batch and freezing.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr30 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr40 minutesmins
Ingredients
2whole butternut pumpkinsquash, sliced in half lengthways
2large onionscut in half and peeled
2garlic bulbsskin on, tops sliced off (see note 1)
5tbspolive oil
1tspsaltplus extra to season
1tspcracked black pepperplus extra to season
½cup125 ml water
4cups1 litre chicken or vegetable stock (at room temperature)
To serve
Sourdough breadsliced, to serve (optional)
Sour creamoptional
Chivesroughly chopped (optional)
Chilli flakesred pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) (all oven types).
Assemble the pumpkin, onions and garlic on a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Bake for 45 minutes. Add the water and cover with foil – this will speed up the cooking time and ensure the vegetables don’t burn (see note 2). Cook for a further 45 minutes until the pumpkin is soft enough to pierce easily with a fork.
Once the vegetables have slightly cooled, use your fingers to squeeze the garlic flesh from their skins.
Scoop the pumpkin flesh out of its skin with a spoon and transfer it, along with the cooked onions and garlic, to a large pot on the stovetop.
Add the chicken stock.
Blend to your desired consistency using a stick (immersion) blender. Turn the heat to medium–high and bring back up to a gentle simmer to heat through.
Season to taste with salt and pepper, serve with sourdough bread and top with sour cream, chives and chilli flakes, if using.
Notes
Note 1 – The garlic skins must be left on. If the garlic cloves are peeled, they will burn. By cutting off the tops, you can squeeze the flesh out of the cooked garlic bulb directly into your soup before blending.Note 2 – If the pumpkin is still hard at the end of 1½ hours, cook, covered, in 20-minute intervals until it is soft.
MAKE AHEAD
Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
LEFTOVERS
Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.