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Pumpkin Curry Soup {Paleo,Vegan}

This Paleo and vegetarian Pumpkin Curry Soup recipe is creamy, flavorful, and made with coconut milk and real pumpkin. It can also be made vegan with a simple substitute!

Image of Pumpkin Curry Soup with coconut milk in a white bowl on a dark wooden table.

I first encountered a version of pumpkin curry soup in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The Whites were the most physically challenging section of my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. As rugged and remote as the mountains were, every once in a while I would come across a beacon of “civilization” in the form of a hut run by the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Image of an AMC hut near the top of Mt. Washington in the White Mountains

For a few dollars, the huts offered some hot food to non-guests; as a rabid thru-hiker, I would have gladly paid ten times the price.

Curried Pumpkin Soup was my favorite dish that I ate at the huts. I will never forget the way it warmed by body and soul after a day getting knocked around by the elements on the trail.

Ingredients

  • Fresh Sugar Pumpkin: Unlike the remote huts of the White Mountains, I have access to fresh pumpkin to use in my version of this soup. It takes a little time, but roasting a fresh pumpkin really adds to the flavor. If you’re running short on time, you can substitute with 2 (15-ounce) cans of pumpkin puree.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Cumin Seeds: Toasting these form the base of the curry and brings some big time flavor. You can substitute with a tablespoon of ground cumin, just add it with the other spices later in the recipe.
  • Onion
  • Carrot
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Ground Coriander
  • Turmeric
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Ground Nutmeg
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Vegetable Stock: Try to use the highest quality you can find, or–even better–homemade.
  • Honey: To make this soup vegan, substitute with maple syrup
  • Fresh Cilantro: If you aren’t a cilantro fan, feel free to omit it completely.
close up of a sugar pumpkin

How to Make Pumpkin Curry Soup

Cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the inner membrane and seeds, reserving the seeds for roasting.

Slice the pumpkin into approximately 1 inch thick wedges.

Overhead image of sliced pumpkin and pumpkin seeds on a wooden cutting board.

Spread the wedges out on a baking sheet. Drizzle some olive oil on top of them and season them with salt and pepper.

Roast the pumpkin in a 350°F oven for about an hour until it is extremely tender.

Close up of roasted pumpkin slices on a metal baking sheet.

Rinse the seeds in a colander and dry them as much as possible on a towel. Toss the seeds with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, then spread them out on a baking sheet in an even layer.

Toast them in the same 350°F oven until they are golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.

Close up of toasted pumpkin seeds

When the pumpkin is just about done, heat some olive oil in a heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat.

Add a tablespoon of cumin seeds and toast the seeds until they are fragrant and start to brown, about 1 minute.

Image of toasting cumin seeds in olive oil in a dutch oven.

Add some diced onion and carrot and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Image of sautéing onion and carrot in a Dutch oven with a colorful wooden spoon.

Add some chopped garlic, ginger, and some coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and sea salt.

Cook for a minute or two until everything is wonderfully fragrant.

Close up of a pile of spices

Add the roasted pumpkin and vegetable stock and bring it to a gentle simmer.

Image of vegetable stock being poured in a Dutch oven.

Puree the soup using a hand blender or in batches using a standard blender, then stir in the coconut milk and honey.

Add a little water if you desire a thinner consistency. Cook for a few minutes until everything is heated through.

Image of a hand immersion blender pureeing pumpkin curry soup

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the toasted pumpkin seeds and some fresh cilantro. Enjoy!

Close up of Pumpkin Curry Soup with coconut milk in a white bowl on a dark wooden table surrounded by small pumpkins.

More Pumpkin Recipes

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5 from 4 votes

Pumpkin Curry Soup

This Paleo and vegetarian Pumpkin Curry Soup recipe is creamy, flavorful, and made with coconut milk and real pumpkin. It can also be made vegan with a simple substitute!
Course Soup
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1 (3-4 pound) sugar pumpkin
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for roasting
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt plus more to taste
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 carrot diced
  • 6 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 inch knob ginger peeled and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 cups low sodium vegetable stock
  • 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup for vegan
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped

For the Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • sea salt
  • black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F
  • Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the inner membrane and seeds, reserving the seeds for roasting. Slice the pumpkin into 1 inch thick wedges.
  • Spread the pumpkin wedges out on a baking sheet. Drizzle some olive oil on top and season them with salt and pepper. Roast for 1 hour or until extremely tender.
  • Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium high heat. Add the cumin seeds and toast until slightly brown and fragrant, about one minute.
  • Add the onion, carrot, and sea salt to the pot and sauté until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the garlic, ginger, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the roasted pumpkin wedges and pour in the stock. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  • Puree the soup using a hand blender, or working in batches with a standard blender.
  • Stir in the coconut milk and honey (or maple syrup). Add water as needed to reach a desired consistency, and season with more sea salt to taste. Cook for a few minutes until heated through.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh cilantro.

For the Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Remove any membrane from the seeds by rinsing them in a colander, then dry them on a paper towel. In a small bowl, toss the seeds with olive oil and a small pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Spread the seeds out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 15-20 minutes, tossing occasionally, until golden brown.
Tried this recipe?Mention @sophisticatedcaveman or tag #sophisticatedcaveman on Instagram!

Equipment

Immersion Blender

The ingredient or equipment sections above may contain affiliate links to products that I personally use or recommend!

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Recipe Rating




Mary

Friday 6th of November 2020

I made this for dinner last night - such a hit! Thanks for this recipe - can't wait to make it again!

The Sophisticated Caveman

Sunday 8th of November 2020

So glad you enjoyed it, Mary!!

Diana Brantley

Saturday 10th of October 2020

Hi , How much canned pumpkin can I use as a substitute for the sugar pumpkin please?

The Sophisticated Caveman

Saturday 10th of October 2020

Hi Diana! I would substitute 2 (15-ounce) cans of pumpkin purée for the fresh pumpkin!

Anne Ryan

Monday 14th of October 2019

This was really delicious, especially on day 2!

The Sophisticated Caveman

Monday 14th of October 2019

Thank you, Anne! It definitely does get better as the flavors meld together!