This simple and delightful Spicy Pumpkin Soup showcases harvest vegetables with the smoky notes of chipolte peppers, making it ideal for a cool day.
My husband and I recently returned from a wonderful autumn trip, enjoying many coffee moments and time spent reading.
Strolling through the woods and nearby parks as the leaves changed colors was a great experience; the exercise and crisp fall air naturally build an appetite, making this Spicy Pumpkin Soup perfect for a chilly meal.
I first encountered a variation of this Spicy Pumpkin Soup recipe from my blog acquaintance Edie, and I decided to test it out for a gathering of 45 women.
Recalling that enjoyable soup preparation day brings back happy memories, and I recently noticed that despite making this soup many times in large batches, I had never prepared it for just my family.
Therefore, yesterday marked the initial occasion I prepared this Spicy Pumpkin Soup in a more typical, family-sized portion.
Ingredients for Spicy Pumpkin Soup:
- 2 Tablespoons of butter and 1 Tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 onion
- 1 large carrot
- 3 stalks of celery
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 boxes of chicken stock
- 1 can of pumpkin puree (ensure it is not pumpkin pie filling!!) ~ a 14 oz can (note that this is half the size of the can shown in the picture…)
- 3 cups of diced baby potatoes
- 1/2 cup of barley
- 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. of ginger
- 1/4 tsp. of nutmeg
- 1 – 2 tsp. of chopped chipoltes (be cautious as they can be quite hot, so introduce them gradually)
- cayenne pepper, if desired
- 2-3 Tablespoons of honey
- 1/2 cup of greek yogurt or sour cream, optional
- season with salt and pepper to your liking
Bildirimlerim: Simple Steps for Pumpkin Soup
1. Prepare the Vegetables
The most time-intensive step when making this Spicy Pumpkin Soup is chopping the vegetables, which includes the carrot, celery, onion, potatoes, and garlic; completing this task makes the rest much easier!
2. Sauté the Chopped Produce
In a substantial stock pot or dutch oven, warm 2 tablespoons of butter alongside 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Incorporate the celery, carrots, and onion into the melted butter. After about 5 minutes of sautéing and stirring, introduce the garlic, seasoning the vegetables throughout the process.
3. Incorporate Remaining Soup Elements
Once the onions and celery are soft and the carrots are tender, add the chicken broth, potatoes, spices, and barley.
4. Flavor with Chipotle Peppers (Use Caution)
My experience shows that canned chipotle peppers vary greatly in heat; I learned this the hard way after tasting a whole can, which was extremely spicy.
Initially, I added the suggested 1 tsp, but after simmering, it lacked sufficient heat. I incrementally added peppers until the entire can was used, yet it was still not spicy enough for us, so I supplemented it with 1 tsp of cayanne pepper.
Adjust the spice level to suit your family's preference; the recipe emphasizes that the peppers are key to the soup's rich, spicy character, a point I fully support.
5. Simmer and Taste Often
Allow the soup to simmer for approximately 45 minutes until the barley is fully cooked, tasting and adjusting the spices as the flavors meld.
6. Temper Spice with Honey (If Needed)
After achieving your desired spicy profile, stir in honey to mellow the heat to your preferred taste.
Adjustments for This Spicy Pumpkin Soup:
- For a creamier texture, stir in either plain greek yogurt or heavy cream at the end.
- Excluding the barley offers a vegetarian and gluten-free alternative.
- Adding diced cooked chicken or bacon will make this soup more substantial.
- We enjoy serving this Spicy Pumpkin Soup alongside grilled ham and cheese sandwiches containing a thin slice of red onion.
- This recipe yields a large amount, more than two people can consume in a few days, so I store leftovers in large zip loc bags for easy retrieval on busy days.
- If you have a large can of pumpkin, use the remainder to create these wonderful Pumpkin Blackberry Muffins; frozen blueberries also enhance the muffins nicely.
Other Delightful Autumn Soup Ideas:
- This simple drop dumpling recipe transforms soups and stews into an effortless one-pot meal!
- For a flavorful meal, try the Crock pot taco soup alongside chips and cheese.
- The olive garden chicken gnocchi soup offers an exceptionally wonderful taste experience.
- Our children particularly enjoy the Tortellini soup with spinach and sausage, even with the inclusion of spinach.
Spicy Pumpkin Soup
Enjoy this effortless Spicy Pumpkin Soup, packed with autumnal vegetables and the rich smokiness from chipolte peppers. It makes for a wonderfully comforting meal when the weather turns cool!
Ingredients
Method
- Saute the chopped carrot, celery, and onion in melted butter and oil for about 5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and saute until onions are clear and carrots are tender.
- Salt soup throughout the cooking process to provide more flavour.
- Add chicken stock, pumpkin, potatoes, barley and all the spices.
- Cook for about 45 minutes or until barley is tender.
- Taste test throughout the cooking process and add more spices if desired.
- Once the soup has achieved a rich, spicy flavour, "cool" it down by adding honey.
- If you prefer a creamy type soup, stir in greek yogurt or heavy cream at the end.
