Creamy Pumpkin Soup

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This easy vegetarian pumpkin bisque comes together in just 45 minutes.

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
6

Silky, smooth, and delicately spiced, this creamy pumpkin bisque is one of those fantastic recipes that yields an amazingly delicious dish with minimal effort. If you're looking for a bowl full of autumn goodness, whip up a batch of this creamy pumpkin soup — it takes just forty-five minutes to make.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the best way to grind cinnamon?

    Freshly ground cinnamon provides warm flavor to this fragrant soup. If you don't have a spice grinder, you can grate a cinnamon stick on a Microplane or use a mortar and pestle to crush cinnamon stick pieces into a fine powder. Alternatively, a high-speed blender will also get the job done.

  • What goes best with pumpkin soup?

    Drizzled with a bit of crème fraîche, this creamy pumpkin soup makes an elegant first course for fall dinner parties or Thanksgiving feasts. It also makes a lovely lunch served with some crusty bread and an autumnal salad.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Produce-wise, a small white onion and a single garlic clove are all there is to prep for this fuss-free recipe. Though you'll want to chop them fairly uniformly so that they cook evenly, everything will get pureed, so there's no need to stress about the aesthetics of your chopping and mincing. While there are definitely dishes that command fresh pumpkin, this is not one of them. Just be sure to buy a can of pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.

Make ahead

This creamy pumpkin soup is even better if it's made a day ahead of time. Just refrigerate it overnight, reheat on the stovetop, and garnish immediately before serving.

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 small white onion, chopped

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • 1 tablespoon firmly packed light brown sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 (15-ounce) can pure pumpkin puree

  • 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

  • Kosher salt

  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

  • Crème fraîche, for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Creamy Pumpkin Soup

    Diana Chistruga

    Gather the ingredients.

  2. Creamy Pumpkin Soup

    Diana Chistruga

    In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is just beginning to brown, add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, sugar, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper and cook for 3 minutes.

  3. Creamy Pumpkin Soup

    Diana Chistruga

    Stir in the pumpkin puree and broth, season with salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

  4. Creamy Pumpkin Soup

    Diana Chistruga

    Stir in the cream and let cool for 10 minutes.

  5. Creamy Pumpkin Soup

    Diana Chistruga

    Transfer the soup to a blender (or use an immersion blender in the pot) and puree until smooth. If needed, add additional water or broth to reach desired consistency. Return the mixture to the pot or a large saucepan.

  6. Creamy Pumpkin Soup

    Diana Chistruga

    Serve warm and drizzle with crème fraîche.

Originally appeared: November 2014

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