Pumpkin soup with pumpkin seed pesto

Pumpkin soup with pumpkin seed pesto

A sophisticated soup for autumn that turns pumpkin into a grown-up treat at Halloween. This works well with any variety of squash that is in season.

Pumpkin soup with pumpkin seed pesto

For a real celebration of pumpkin, try serving the soup with these pumpkin scones. 

  • Serves icon Serves 8
  • Time icon Takes 1¼-1½ hours to make, plus cooling

A sophisticated soup for autumn that turns pumpkin into a grown-up treat at Halloween. This works well with any variety of squash that is in season.

For a real celebration of pumpkin, try serving the soup with these pumpkin scones. 

Nutrition: per serving

Calories
435kcals
Fat
40.6g (13.8g saturated)
Protein
8.3g
Carbohydrates
10g (5.9g sugar)
Salt
1.4g

Ingredients

  • 1.25kg kabocha squash or pumpkin
  • Sunflower oil
  • 40g butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1.2 litres hot vegetable stock
  • 4 tbsp crème fraîche
  • Fresh flatleaf parsley sprigs, to garnish

For the pumpkin seed pesto

  • 30g shelled, unsalted pumpkin seeds (from supermarkets and health food shops)
  • 40g fresh coriander leaves
  • 1/2 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 1 fat garlic clove, crushed
  • 65ml olive oil
  • 25g vegetarian Parmesan, finely grated
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Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Cut the squash or pumpkin into chunky wedges and scoop away all the fibres and seeds, leaving the skin on. Rub the squash pieces with sunflower oil and season well with salt and pepper. Put them into a small roasting tin, skin-side down. Roast for about 40 minutes or until tender. Remove the squash from the oven and transfer onto a plate. When cool enough to handle, slice away and discard the skin and cut the flesh into small chunks.
  2. Melt the butter in a large pan, add the onion and cook gently for about 10 minutes until the onion is very soft but not browned. Add the roasted squash, any juices from the plate and the stock. Season, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, make the pesto. Heat a dry, heavy-based frying pan over a high heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and shake them around until lightly toasted. Cool, reserving 1 tablespoon of seeds to garnish. Put the rest of the seeds into a food processor with the coriander, chilli, garlic and oil. Blend to a paste. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan, seasoning to taste.
  4. Leave the soup to cool slightly, then liquidise in batches until smooth. Return to a clean pan and bring back to a gentle simmer. Stir in 4 tablespoons of the pesto and adjust the seasoning. Ladle into warmed bowls and garnish each with a spoonful of crème fraîche, the reserved toasted pumpkin seeds and a sprig of flatleaf parsley.

Nutrition

Calories
435kcals
Fat
40.6g (13.8g saturated)
Protein
8.3g
Carbohydrates
10g (5.9g sugar)
Salt
1.4g

delicious. tips

  1. This soup looks really impressive served in hollowed-out mini squashes. Simply scoop out the seeds, pop the lids back on and roast for 35-45 minutes alongside the wedges.

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