Spicy pumpkin soup

Make the most of seasonal squash in the early autumn and try a spicy pumpkin soup. You can toast the seeds, too, and add as a topping

Prep:35 mins
Cook:1 hrs

Serves 4
Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 315
fat 24g
saturates 10g
carbs 15g
sugars 0g
fibre 8g
protein 5g
salt 0.59g

Ingredients

1 pumpkin, about 1.5-2kg (save the seeds – toast them in a dry pan to serve)
1tbsp garam masala
2tsp ground coriander
2tsp ground cumin
½-1tsp chilli flakes or powder, plus a pinch
3tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
900ml veg stock
100ml double cream or crème fraiche, plus extra to serve

Method

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds with a spoon (see tip below). Cut into wedges or chunks (keep the skin on) and tip into a bowl. Put the garam masala, and 1 tsp each of the coriander and cumin into a small bowl and mix with 2 tbsp of the oil and season. Drizzle over the pumpkin and toss well to coat in the spiced oil. Transfer to a baking tray, spread out evenly and roast for 40-45 mins, turning halfway through cooking, until the pumpkin is very soft when pierced with a fork. Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes.
Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion with a pinch of salt for 10 mins until soft. Add the ginger, garlic and remaining spices and chilli flakes, and fry for a few more minutes until fragrant. Pour in the stock and bring to a gentle simmer.
When the pumpkin is cool enough to touch, use a spoon to scoop the soft flesh from the skins. Add the soft pumpkin to the stock pan, discarding the skins. Remove from the heat and blitz the soup with a hand blender until creamy and smooth. Season to taste, adding extra chilli or garam masala if you like. Put back over a low heat and stir in the cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, then serve in bowls with a drizzle more cream and a pinch of chilli to serve. Top with toasted pumpkin seeds, if you like.

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