Roasted Pumpkin Soup
🕒 Prep Time: 15 min | 🕒 Total Time: 1 ½ hours
🍽️ Servings: 4-6
Ingredients:
For soup
1 sugar pie pumpkin
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 springs fresh thyme
4 cloves garlic
1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
Unsalted butter or cream (optional)
For croutons
4 slices of bread (French or sourdough)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Split pumpkin in half (in quarters if it is a large pumpkin) and scrape out the seeds and pith.
Rub the inside of the cleaned pumpkin with oil and season with salt and pepper.
Place halves cut side down on a baking sheet with a sprig of thyme and 2-4 unpeeled garlic cloves underneath each seed cavity.
Roast in the oven for 45 minutes or until completely tender. If you choose to make croutons, make them while the pumpkin is roasting.*
When the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, peel off the skin and add pulp to a soup pot along with the roasted garlic once it is squeezed out of its skin.
Mash together thoroughly, add stock, and heat to a simmer.
Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. For a richer soup, add a bit of butter or cream.
*While the pumpkin is cooking, cut slices of bread into ½” cubes and toss them with melted butter, salt, and spread on the baking sheet while roasting in the oven until brown and crisp. Generously grind black pepper over them as soon as you take them out of the oven.
💚The Healthy Bit: Pumpkin 💚
Pumpkin is a good source of vitamins A,C,E and K, as well as minerals like potassium, magnesium, and iron. It also contains antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin (eye health), which help protect cells from free radical damage.
In addition, pumpkin is low on the glycemic index and contains fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and promotes good digestion and elimination. It also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may help pain and swelling associated with conditions like arthritis.
Note: While pumpkin offers numerous health benefits, it's important to consume it in moderation as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
