Pumpkin Soup

Sometimes there’s nothing better than a warm, nourishing, bowl of pumpkin soup to offer a bit of comfort. This basic vegan recipe can be adapted to your individual tastes by simply choosing your personal flavour palette. This a also a great way to use your cooking essential oils!

Fresh Pumpkin- peeled (or not) and chopped or sliced for roasting

Brown Onions- rough diced

Coconut Oil (or other high heat oil of choice)

Coconut Cream

Fresh Ginger- grated

Salt & Pepper- to taste

Toss your pumpkin pieces in oil and spread in a single layer on baking trays. Roast at 250°C for about 30-45min. Roasting time will depend on your oven and size of your pieces. Check after 20min. You want pumpkin to be cooked through and fork soft.

While pumpkin is roasting, get your onions frying in some oil with a few pinches of salt in a pot big enough for your finished soup. Turn heat down to med-low after they start to get soft, be careful not to burn. Add grated ginger and continue cooking until fragrant.

Remove pot from heat and add pumpkin and coconut cream. Using a stick blender/bar mix to blend until smooth and velvety- you may need to add more liquid to achieve this- hot water or veggie stock will do the trick. Add S&P to taste. A heat tolerant food processor or blender will also to the job, though you might have to blend in batches depending on how much you make.

For a Savory Soup:

Use garlic instead of ginger and add herbs or essential oils like thyme, rosemary, oregano, bay leaf, basil and marjoram.

For a Sweet Soup:

Use spices or essential oils of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and cardamom. Drizzle with maple syrup.

For a Thai Style Soup:

Use ginger, garlic and turmeric in the base along with lemongrass, kaffier lime and chillies

For an Indian Style Soup:

Use turmeric, cumin, coriander, fennel, black mustard seed, fresh curry leaf and star anise.

The flavour possibilities are endless! You can also experiment with adding texture with whole chickpeas, lentils or green peas, chopped greens like spinach or kale, or a chunky veg medley of your choice. You can really do whatever you want with this versatile base!

There are great recipes all over the internet for more ideas, details and specifics. Enjoy!