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Thai Pumpkin Soup

From ingredients to enjoyment, this recipe makes it easy to create something wonderful.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 4 (makes 7 to 8 cups)
Calories: 399 kcal
Course: Soup , Dinner
Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients

Roasted Pumpkin
  • 3 pound (1.3 kg) pumpkin or winter squash (we like kabocha squash best)*
  • ½ tablespoon coconut oil, or neutral-flavored oil of choice
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Soup
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (or ¾ teaspoon ground cumin)
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds (or ¾ teaspoon ground coriander)
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper (or freshly cracked black pepper)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 ½ tablespoons coconut oil, or neutral-flavored oil of choice
  • 3 large shallots, chopped (or 1 small yellow onion)
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 inch piece ginger, grated or minced (okay to leave peel on)
  • 2 stalks fresh lemongrass** outer papery layers removed, then minced
  • 1 13.5-ounce (400 mL) can full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 3 cups (720 mL) vegan “chicken” broth or good-quality vegetable broth***
  • 12 dried Makrut lime leaves or 6 fresh lime leaves****
  • 1 ½ tablespoons coconut sugar or organic brown sugar, more as needed
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Thai soy sauce (or 2 TBSP + 1 tsp regular soy sauce)
  • 1 handful of Thai basil leaves, chopped or torn
For serving
  • Crusty bread, toasted
  • Peanut Chile Crunch (optional, see next recipe card)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 400ºF/205ºC. Using a sharp knife, slice the pumpkin in half. If too hard, microwave the whole squash for 2 minutes to soften. Scoop out the seeds using a spoon.
  2. Roast the pumpkin. Mix together the ½ tbsp of the oil, salt, white pepper, and cinnamon in a small bowl until it’s almost like a paste. Use a pastry brush or your hands to brush inside the cavities of the pumpkin/squash only, but not on the top outer rims. For the top outer rims, just brush lightly with oil (no spices, or they will burn).Place the pumpkin halves, flesh side down, on a rimmed sheet pan. Prick the skin with a knife to allow venting. Roast until the pumpkin is very soft, about 40 to 45 minutes.
While the pumpkin roasts, prep and make everything else in the next 3 steps.
    Cup of Yum
  1. Crush the spices. Using an electric spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind up the cumin and coriander seeds but don’t fully grind, leaving a little texture. Stir in the white pepper, cinnamon, and turmeric for your spice blend. If you don’t have either, crush them using the back of a heavy mug or a cast iron skillet, or add them to a ziploc and roll back and forth with a rolling pin or smash with a mallet.
  2. Make the soup. Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat with the 1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil. Once hot, add the shallots, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass with a pinch of salt, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until shallots and garlic just start to get some color. If it starts to stick, add a splash of water to scrape up the food bits. Add the spice mix and stir almost constantly for 30 seconds.
  3. Add a few tablespoons of coconut milk to deglaze and pick up food bits. Once bubbling, add the curry paste. Fry for a few minutes, tossing frequently to prevent sticking. Pour in the rest of the coconut milk, broth, lime leaves, sugar, and soy sauce. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Scoop out the lime leaves but keep them for now.
  4. Blend the soup. While pumpkin is still warm, scoop out the flesh using a large spoon or peel the skin with your hands. Transfer the flesh to the blender; discard the skin. Add the warm soup and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste the soup. If you want a stronger flavor from the lime leaves, add some to the soup and blend again (you need a fairly powerful blender). Note: if your blender container is smaller than 64 ounces, blend in two batches.
  5. Rest for 15 minutes to meld the flavors. Taste, adding more soy sauce or sugar as desired. Garnish each bowl with a handful of Thai basil and a spoon of Peanut Chile Crunch, if using. When reheating, thin as needed with broth or water, as it thickens.

Notes

  • For ingredient substitutions, read the Ingredient Notes section or FAQ section. To keep gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce. 
  • *We love the velvety texture and nutty flavor of kabocha squash here. Butternut squash also works great. A sugar pie pumpkin works, but it had the least flavor and texture in comparison. 
  • *We love the velvety texture and nutty flavor of kabocha squash here. Butternut squash also works great. A sugar pie pumpkin works, but it had the least flavor and texture in comparison. 
  • ** To prepare lemongrass: cut off the tough bottom nub and the tough top green stalks. Peel the papery outer layers until you reach the tender, flexile inner white core. Smash down on it with a rolling pin or mallet, then mince. 
  • ** To prepare lemongrass: cut off the tough bottom nub and the tough top green stalks. Peel the papery outer layers until you reach the tender, flexile inner white core. Smash down on it with a rolling pin or mallet, then mince. 
  • *** Our favorite brand of store-bought broth is Imagine Organic. 
  • *** Our favorite brand of store-bought broth is Imagine Organic. 
  • **** For fresh lime leaves, lightly crush them with your hands to release aroma. For dried leaves, gently crumple them. 
  • **** For fresh lime leaves, lightly crush them with your hands to release aroma. For dried leaves, gently crumple them. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 399kcal (20%) Carbohydrates 48g (16%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 23g (35%) Saturated Fat 20g (100%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Sodium 1388mg (58%) Potassium 1504mg (43%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 16g (32%) Vitamin A 6221IU (124%) Vitamin C 46mg (51%) Calcium 145mg (15%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4(makes 7 to 8 cups)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 399

% Daily Value*

Calories 399kcal 20%
Carbohydrates 48g 16%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 20g 100%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g 3%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 1388mg 58%
Potassium 1504mg 32%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 16g 32%
Vitamin A 6221IU 124%
Vitamin C 46mg 51%
Calcium 145mg 15%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.