Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (2024)

It’s now the time of year when pumpkin is king. I’m excited to share with you an awesome Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup recipe ~ not just for how delicious and easy this soup is, but because of the story behind this soup.

I love sharing super favorite recipes, so here is a perfectly wonderful soup for the fall and winter months ~ Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup.

The flavor of pumpkin is not just for sweets. This creamy pumpkin soup has a rich texture that is a warming choice for a cool fall or winter meal.

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (1)

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

What years ago was an ingredient reserved for pie at Thanksgiving is now found in bread, casseroles, various desserts, cakes and appetizers. And soup

Some of you may not know that when I started this blog, I intended for it to be a food blog. As a cooking instructor for many years, I have enough tested and taught recipes to last for the next decade. Although I rarely teach cooking classes anymore, my love for home decor and DIY projects won out and the blog morphed from Bluesky Kitchen to Bluesky at home.

The Story of Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

A few years ago, I wrote a recipe column as part of my (unpaid) “job” writing for a local neighborhood magazine. My job was to interview neighbors who shared a favorite family recipe. I loved meeting these neighbors and hearing their recipe stories.

One lovely lady I met was very active in the Dallas County Master Gardener Association. This 400~member strong group is a non-profit, educational, and volunteer service organization. It benefits Dallas County through educational programs and supports over 30 community and school gardening projects. You may have similar organizations in your community.

I’ve known other ladies who are members of DCMGA, but Linda was certainly one of the most active and busy: she was chairman of the group’s multi~year effort to write, produce and market a brand new cookbook.

Well, finally, after months of gathering, testing, editing, and photographing hundreds of recipes, this beautiful cookbook was published. Of course, I dropped by Linda’s home to pick up my copy.

I was immediately impressed with the beautiful cover. Flipping through the pages, I could see how the gorgeous photography enhanced the recipes. A Year on the Plate is a coffee table~sized book organized by seasons and very food and garden~focused.

At the time, Linda knew I was a cooking instructor: in fact, she had attended one of my cooking classes. She knew that I wrote a blog that featured both recipes and lifestyle topics. She asked me to look through the cookbook, pick a few recipes, prepare them and share them with my readers ~ you, which I was happy to do. The timing was perfect.

For a scheduled cooking class at the time, my theme was fall~focused recipes. I knew I wanted a seasonal soup and I found the Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup, which I thought sounded delicious. I made it for Sweet Shark (He’s often been my recipe taster over the years.) and we both thought it was really good, so into the cooking class menu it went.

Here’s the picture of the soup in the cookbook. By the way, two members of DCMGA, non~professionals, took all the photography in the book.

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (3)

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

As a cooking instructor, I was always tweaking recipes. I made a couple of changes to the recipe, not in the ingredients or basic directions, but just a few improvements (I thought) to clarify the directions.

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Ingredients

Remember to always gather all your ingredients, measuring as many things as possible before you begin cooking or baking.

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (4)

Ingredients for Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup is ready, start to finish in about 1 hour. It can be made ahead, chilled and then reheated.

TIP Soups thicken when chilled; you may need to add more broth to dilute it to a pourable consistency.

TIP Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup calls for jalapeño, which isn’t very hot. If you want more heat, switch to a serrano or, if you are really brave, a scotch bonnet or habanero.

I used roasted and salted pumpkin seeds ~ also called pepitas ~ as my garnish. I thought the crunchy texture would be nice with the creaminess of the soup.

These bowls were perfect to serve the soup in ~ a perfect 1 cup amount.

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (5)

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

The soup says it yields 10 cups, but mine made about 12 cups.

Try this soup during the coming cooler months. If you like the Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup, love cookbooks, want to have a regional cookbook from Texas, and want to support a worthwhile cause, you can purchase the cookbook by clicking on the Dallas County Master Gardener Association site. That is the only place you can get the book. At $40, it’s a great deal and would make a wonderful gift for the food or garden lover on your Christmas list.

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (6)

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Enjoy the soup and let me know what you think about it.

Butternut Squash Soup with Cumin is another awesome soup for fall.

I hope that you will save this delicious Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup for your fall enjoyment. PIN it for now or Later.

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (7)

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (8)

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (9)

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to pumpkin soup to thicken it? ›

There are several ways to thicken pumpkin soup. The easiest method is to reduce the soup by cooking off some of the liquid. Alternatively, use a slurry of all-purpose flour or cornstarch and water, add a teaspoon or two of either thickener to a small bowl and stir in 2 to 3 teaspoons of the soup to create a slurry.

Why does my pumpkin soup taste bland? ›

If you think the soup is bland, try adding salt to make all the flavors pop. Use All The Spices Listed. I know it might seem like a long list, but they are all delicious and important for giving the soup a warm and spicy quality: Thyme, Cumin, Ginger, Poultry Seasoning and Cinnamon.

Why is my pumpkin soup so watery? ›

Soft fleshed pumpkins can make the soup a little watery. They are a different beast… from your standard greengrocer pumpkin.” As lovely as pumpkin is, its natural sweetness needs a little back-up to really shine. Try sweating a chopped leek with, or instead of, onion at the start of cooking.

How to thicken pumpkin soup without cream? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Does evaporated milk help thicken soup? ›

Keep in mind that this evaporated milk will make your dish taste richer, but it won't actually thicken the soup. You can always use a bit of flour or cornstarch if you're missing that added texture. Otherwise, you'll find evaporated milk the best dairy addition for your classic slow cooker favorites.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

How to enhance pumpkin flavor? ›

Pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors. To complement pumpkin with sweet flavor pairings, consider using spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, or sweet ingredients like chocolate, maple, honey, cranberries or brown sugar.

How do you take the bitterness out of pumpkin soup? ›

2> Balancing flavors: Counteract the bitterness with other flavors. Sweetness can help balance bitterness, so consider adding ingredients like carrots, onions, or a small amount of sugar or honey. Acidic ingredients like tomatoes or a splash of vinegar can also help balance flavors.

What herbs go well with pumpkin? ›

Ingredients
  • Pumpkin, cut into thick slices.
  • Oregano.
  • Rosemary.
  • Thyme.
  • Coriander.
  • Dill.
  • Salt.
  • Pepper.

How to thicken creamy soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

Do you add cream to soup before or after blending? ›

The vegetables will be soft after simmering for 15 minutes.

Then, blend the vegetables into a creamy soup. At this point, I love adding a splash of cream.

What pairs well with pumpkin soup? ›

I love to pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich or a hearty autumn salad like one of these:
  • Kale Salad.
  • Farro Salad.
  • Pear Salad with Balsamic and Walnuts.
  • Butternut Squash Salad.
  • Sweet Potato Salad.

How to thicken homemade pumpkin soup? ›

The best way to thicken pumpkin soup, assuming you have pureed the soup with a stick blender or food processor, is to simmer it with the lid off for about half an hour. This will evaporate some of the liquid and result in a thicker soup.

How do you make soup thicker without flour or cornstarch? ›

Soup Thickening Method: Blended White Beans

I drained and rinsed canned white beans and then blended them without any additional liquid until smooth. I added gradually to the simmering soup until I saw the texture change.

How to fix soup that is too watery? ›

Mash beans, lentils, rice, or bread.

Rice, lentils, and beans release a lot of starch and naturally thicken soups simply from simmering, but you can also mash half the cooked rice/lentils/beans before adding to the soup for a simple way to thicken your dish.

How do you thicken a watery pumpkin? ›

The process is simple. By slowly cooking pumpkin purée on the stovetop (10 to 15 minutes, depending on the recipe), the water is forced to evaporate off, resulting in an ingredient that's thicker and more concentrated.

What is the best ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

What to do with watery pumpkin purée? ›

How to fix watery pumpkin puree
  1. Prepare a strainer or sieve over a bowl.
  2. Line it with a cheesecloth or a few sheets of paper towel.
  3. Transfer the puree to the assembly and let it drain for 30 mins to 1 hour.
Oct 8, 2022

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