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Pumpkin Soup with Apple-Cranberry Relish and Spicy Pepitas

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Pumpkin Soup with Apple Cranberry Relish, and Spicy Pepitas is a delicious recipe for fall or winter – especially for when your soul needs a little comfort food. 

Pumpkin Soup with Apple Cranberry Relish and Spicy Pepitas

Fall squash aren’t JUST for decorations, you know. They’re both beautiful, and delicious.

It’s the perfect thing for the winter weather that’s on our horizon. When the weather outside looks frightful, there is nothing that warms the soul and lifts the spirits like a comforting bowl of soup!I would have ~never~ guessed when I was a child, that I’d be craving a lovely bowl of pumpkin soup, but life is full of surprises! 

How I Discovered This Recipe

I told you a while back that I’d had a great talk with Chef Roy at the late Cantina Laredo, and that he’d shared with me at some length how he made the Pumpkin Soup that he served us that evening.

I came home and did my best to reproduce what Chef Roy had described to me. My family really enjoyed my own effort at recreating what Chef Roy served us, and so I thought I’d share the recipe that was my best attempt at recreating his delicious soup.

What Makes This Recipe for Pumpkin Soup Unique?

Most Pumpkin Soup recipes, in general, are very similar. The thing that really distinguishes this recipe, and makes it unique, is the delicious topping.

The Relish That Tops the Pumpkin Soup

The relish contains a little heat, a little sweet, and the spicy crunch of the pepitas. You know pepitas are roasted pumpkin seeds, right? They’re one of my favorite snacks, and not only because they’re delicious. Pepitas are high in magnesium, which is helpful for those of us who suffer from muscle aches, and who struggle to get a good night’s sleep. So, they’re not only good: they’re good for you, too!

Hope my efforts at recreating what you made for us come pretty close, Chef Roy! I may not have gone about it in exactly the same way you did, but ultimately, the flavor of my version really was delicious!

 

Pumpkin Soup with Apple Cranberry Relish and Spicy Pepitas

Cold weather calls for warm soup!

Pumpkin Soup with Apple Cranberry Relish and Spicy Pepitas

Rich and creamy, this soup is absolutely deluscious! (Delicious + luscious)Won’t you pin this on Pinterest?

I’d be delighted if you’d share this image on Pinterest.

The Recipe for Pumpkin Soup with Apple-Cranberry Relish and Spicy Pepitas

Yield: 4 servings

Pumpkin Soup with Apple-Cranberry Relish and Spicy Pepitas

Pumpkin Soup with Apple-Cranberry Relish and Spicy Pepitas #pumpkin #pumpkinsoup #soup #fallsoup #fallrecipe

A creamy, savory pumpkin soup with a bright apple cranberry relish, and spicy pepitas.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • FOR THE SOUP:
  • 1 T. olive oil
  • 2 T. butter
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 1 rib celery, finely chopped
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 T. flour
  • 2 t. chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 t. chipotle chili powder
  • 1/2 t. Cholula hot sauce (or hot sauce of your preference)
  • 6 c. chicken stock (use homemade if you've got it! I did)
  • 1 28 oz. can pumpkin purée
  • 2 c. heavy cream
  • FOR THE RELISH:
  • 1 crisp red apple, like Gala
  • 1/4 c. red onion
  • 2 T. lemon juice
  • 1/2 c. dried cranberries or cherries
  • 1/4 t. chipotle chili powder
  • 1/4 t. ground cinnamon
  • FOR THE PEPITAS:
  • 1 c. pepitas
  • 1 t. olive oil
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • 1/2 t. sugar
  • a pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. FOR THE SOUP: Heat oil and butter in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add celery, onion, and bay leaf. Season the veggies with salt & pepper. Cook until translucent and tender, about 6 or 7 minutes.
  2. Whisk in flour, thyme, chili powder and hot sauce (to taste), and allow flour to cook and spices to bloom for a minute.
  3. Add chicken stock, continuing to whisk. Bring it to a boil and stir in pumpkin purée in large spoonfuls, continuing to stir. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add in cream. Reduce heat to low.
  4. At this point, if you prefer your soup with texture, you can leave it as is. If you prefer a smooth purée, either blend it in batches in your blender/Vitamix (be careful not to fill blender too full: hot liquids expand and can explode! I usually don't fill my blender over half full when it comes to hot soups), or if you happen to have an immersion blender, that would be really handy!
  5. Taste soup and adjust seasoning.

  6. FOR THE RELISH: Combine all ingredients, and stir. Spoon onto top of soup.
  7. FOR THE PEPITAS: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  8. Toss all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Spread on a baking sheet and bake 5 minutes, or until lightly browned,

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1058Total Fat: 76gSaturated Fat: 36gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 161mgSodium: 1125mgCarbohydrates: 80gFiber: 12gSugar: 43gProtein: 26g

Heather V.

Tuesday 13th of April 2021

Tweaked this a smidge so I could crock-pot it (basically - used sweet potatoes, diced, instead of the pumpkin) (and subbed coconut milk for the heavy cream, b/c we have a dairy free person) and HOLY COW it is so crazy delicious.

You are 1000% right that the relish on top is what makes it (although, I did not have the pepitas, waaah, but still). Love love love love love it.

Susan Williams

Thursday 15th of April 2021

That sounds like a scrumptious way to adapt it! Yum!!!

stacyla

Tuesday 9th of December 2014

BLESS YOU. I've been racking my brain over this soup since the tequila dinner!

Susan Williams

Wednesday 10th of December 2014

Stacy! That makes me so happy!!! Glad to be of help!!!

elenad1225

Monday 8th of December 2014

This looks yummy. I'm saving the recipe!

Ellen Dolgen

Monday 8th of December 2014

This sounds wonderful! I love Cholula hot sauce! Do you think it would be just as good without the heavy cream???

Susan Williams

Monday 8th of December 2014

Ellen, I don't know if it would be *just* as good, but it would be good. :D

Nancy Fox

Monday 8th of December 2014

Sounds yummy Susan! My recent post Skinny Vegetarian Lasagna Roll-Ups

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