Easy and healthy creamy Spicy Pumpkin Soup, that’s bold and rich with Asian flavours.
This Spicy Pumpkin Soup is one of recipes that I teach in my class and demonstration. Most pumpkin soup recipes are loaded with cream, but this Spicy Pumpkin Soup is a healthy soup recipe, bold and rich with Asian flavours. It is gluten free, vegan and a comfort to the soul. The participants love how quick and healthy it is; and packed with bold flavours.
The secret to making this soup thick and creamy without the cream is by adding sweet potatoes. Not only sweet potatoes fill you up, their natural sugars are released slowly into the bloodstream which means they don’t give a nasty blood sugar spikes (like most carbohydrates do) which is often associated with fatigue and weight-gain. I absolutely love making thick soups as it’s a great way to sneak in vegetables into your meals, especially getting the young ones to eat veggies.
There are 2 methods that I use to make this soup. The fuss free method that I learnt from mama is steam and blend. Usually I would use this method when the venue I’m demonstrating does not allow open fire or food smell from cooking. I use my Tefal Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker that has a steam basket to steam the cut pumpkin (with skin), potatoes and onion. Then scoop out the pumpkin flesh, add potatoes, onion, hot water and seasoning into blender. It’s fun to watch the participants’ expressions when the rich bold flavours hit them.
The 2nd method of browning the vegetables gives the soup a slight caramelised flavour. Then add in liquid to cook until the sweet potatoes are fork tender. Add seasoning and blend till smooth.
I like to make a bigger batch and freeze them in jars. On days when I’m feeling lazy to cook, the soup are easily reheated as a side to a salad or add in some rolled oats for a more substantial meal. Ah curious about oats in soup? Read about savoury oatmeal here.
This post is linked to the Event Little Thumbs Up (Oct 2014 Event: PUMPKIN) Organised by Zoe (Bake for Happy Kids) and Mui Mui (My Little Favourite DIY) and hosted by Eileen (Eileen’s Diary) .
- 500g Pumpkin
- 200g Sweet Potatoes – cut into chunks
- 1 large White Onion – cut into half
- 1 teaspoon good quality Chili Powder (adjust amount to your preference of heat level)
- Sea salt to taste
- 1 liter Water or Vegetable Stock
- To Garnish
- 2 tablespoon thick Coconut Milk
- Coriander
- sliced Red Chili
- 1 Lime
- Cut pumpkin into half and remove the seeds. Cut sweet potatoes and onion.
- Place cut pumpkin (with skin), sweet potatoes and onion into steamer, and steam for 10 minutes until sweet potatoes are fork tender (easily pierced with a fork). Scoop out the pumpkin flesh into blender, add potatoes, onion, hot water and seasoning into blender. Blend until smooth.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of coconut milk, coriander, red chili and a squeeze of lime.
- Cut pumpkin into 2” chunks, remove skin and seeds. Cut sweet potatoes into chunks. Cut onion into quarters.
- Heat up medium size pot on medium fire, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and onion. Saute for 2 minutes until onion is slightly brown. Add pumpkin and sweet potato chunks to roughly brown them on each side. I did not brown every piece, just a quick general sear to get a caramelised flavour from the chunks. Then add in water, simmer until the sweet potatoes are fork tender (easily pierced with a fork). Add seasoning and blend with hand blender (or pour into blender) till smooth.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of coconut milk, coriander, red chili and a squeeze of lime.
Comments
17 responses to “Spicy Pumpkin Soup”
Thank you for this recipe. I will be making it soon!
I absolutely adore pumpkin soup with spices when the weather is cold and dull outside. =)
Absolutely. Thanks for dropping by Helene. Hope you have been well
This looks like the perfect fall soup recipe. Two of my fav’s. Pumpkin and sweet potato. Another simple but delicious recipe for me to try. I love your ideas. Monica
Thank you Monica, a great soup to try as the weather warms up
I’ve never made pumpkin soup, but this one looks so simple and deicious! Pinning!
Thanks Mira for pinning. Hope you get to give it a go one day
This post came at a perfect time. I made a really bland pumpkin soup yesterday. I tried to perk it up with some southwestern spices now it’s too spicy….lol.
Lol so what happened to your soup? You can add more cooked potatoes to blend in the soup, they help to alleviate the spiciness.
Hi Shannon, you have a awesome blog, lots of useful info and great recipes here. Thanks for your great sharing and support to LTU.
Thanks Eileen, glad you find my blog useful. I haven’t heard of LTU, what is it?
Hi Shannon, Little Thumb Up is an event organised by Zoe and Doreen , with the intention to link up all healthy cooking/baking food by choosing one theme for each month. For the month of October, being the host of this event, I select ‘Pumpkin’ and welcome everyone to share and link up to LTU.
Ah I’m not familiar with the term LTU, as I just got to know about Little Thumb Up event. Thanks for enlightening me Eileen 😀
A nice simple soup that I imagine goes down very well with your students. Sweet potatoes don’t need cream (hate the stuff!), just making everything a bit too dessert like for my palate. But a little drizzle of coconut milk sets it off brilliantly. Gorgeous pix, my dear x
Thank you Kellie. Mama’s recipe is using potato, but I prefer sweet potatoes, I can eat them everyday 😀
Hi Shannon! I am already loving your spicy pumpkin soup without even tasting it! This is a must try as I love pumpkins as well as sweet potatoes. I wonder if you would be interested to link up with this month’s Little Thumbs Up event as the theme ingredient is pumpkin. That way, more people will get to know about this fabulous soup. Here’s the link :
http://eileenlml.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/little-thumbs-up-oct-pumpkin.html
Thank you Phong Hong for letting me know about Little Thumbs Up link up, off to check it out. You are a sweetie