Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Treat yourself to a bowl of the BEST Roasted Pumpkin Soup today ... this thick and creamy soup is a total fall treat that's bursting with warm flavors and couldn't be easier to make (or more delicious)!

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I've been cooking with lots of fresh pumpkin this fall ... mostly to fuel my pumpkin seed addiction. I just can't seem get enough of those crunchy seeds.

Pumpkin is surprisingly versatile in savory recipes. I've used it in everything from chili to risotto, all with excellent results. And this Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Coconut Milk is a favorite lately!

This cozy recipe is full of warm autumn flavors that are absolutely irresistible. It's tastes rich, but it's loaded with healthy veggies, which I consider a major win. The best thing about this recipe though (apart from it's delicious, savory taste) is that it's so easy to make. 

I'm sharing lots of tips and tricks, flavoring ideas, and more below ... keep reading for all the details!

Ingredients

This recipe uses basic ingredients to create a low effort, yet super delicious soup. Here's what you'll need:

• Pumpkin - You will need a pie pumpkin for this recipe, not a jack-o-lantern type pumpkin, which tends to be stringy. I used a fairly small pumpkin, but I've found they really vary in size. If you end up with more pumpkin than I did, don't be afraid to use it all ... you can always add extra broth to thin out the recipe a bit more, if needed.
• Veggies - Along with the pumpkin, you'll roast a carrot, orange bell pepper, and an onion.
• Maple Syrup - A little maple syrup brings out the sweetest of the veggies and adds a touch of fall flavor to the soup.
• Garlic - Fresh garlic adds a wonderful savory flavor to the soup.
• Rosemary - You'll use fresh rosemary when roasted the pumpkin and vegetables, and later, when seasoning the soup.
• Broth - I used vegetable broth when developing this recipe, and it adds tons of flavor to the finished soup. I prefer to make my own from bouillon or Better Than Bouillon ... that way I always have some on hand.
• Coconut Milk - The silky soup is made without cream and gets its creaminess from coconut milk instead. Make sure to use canned, unsweetened coconut milk for this recipe, not coconut cream. Full fat works best.

Even though this recipe is made with healthy ingredients, it feels like an indulgent treat. It's actually vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and gluten free (always read labels if you have an allergy) ... so pretty much anyone can enjoy it! 

You'll Also Need

To make this recipe, you'll need a couple baking sheets to roast the vegetables and as a dutch oven or soup pot. I used my trusty Calphalon dutch oven. To puree the soup, I highly recommend using an immersion blender, but a traditional blender will also work.

How to Make Roasted Pumpkin Soup

This is one of the easiest soups you'll ever make, so let's jump in and get started! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:

1. Roast the vegetables. Begin by chopping the pumpkin, carrot, onion, and bell pepper, then divide them onto two baking sheets (pumpkin and carrots on one / onion and bell peppers on the other). Drizzle veggies with olive oil and maple syrup, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything well (clean hands work great for this), then top with a few sprigs of fresh rosemary. Roast the vegetable for 20 minutes, then flip and continue cooking until they're very tender and lightly browned. The onions / bell peppers may take less time than the carrots / pumpkin, so watch them closely. Discard the sprigs of rosemary once the vegetables are finished roasting.
2. Sauté garlic. Next, you'll combine a tablespoon of olive oil and three cloves of garlic in a large pot over medium heat. Heat the garlic just until it's sizzling and fragrant.
3. Add the veggies, broth, and coconut milk. Add the roasted vegetables to the garlic. Stir well, then add the vegetable broth and coconut milk. Heat this mixture just until it's warm (no need to boil), then remove the pot from the burner.
4. Puree soup. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until it's super smooth. It will take a few minutes, so be patient. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can puree the soup in batches using a standard blender. Be very careful, and place a hand towel over the blender lid to protect yourself. 
5. Heat and season soup. To finish the soup, return it to the stove burner, then continue cooking just until it's hot. Season to taste with fresh rosemary, salt, and pepper, and you're done. 

Wasn't that easy? This creamy Pumpkin Soup really is simple to make! I served mine topped with a drizzle of coconut milk, some fresh-cracked pepper, and a sprinkle of rosemary. Crunchy pepitas, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Homemade Croutons, or a swirl of Rosemary Pesto would also be delicious!

This recipe makes about four small bowls of soup. You could also easily double the recipe to feed more people though.

Variations

I purposely kept this recipe simple to highlight its classic flavor, but there any so many ways to experiment with different seasonings and ingredients. Here are some ideas:

• Veggies - I used a carrot and orange bell pepper to enhance the soup's flavor and bring out its vibrant color. Other vegetables, like butternut squash (or other winter squash), sweet potatoes, or a yellow or red pepper would also work. You could also replace the pumpkin altogether with another winter squash or even sweet potatoes.
• Garlic - I used fresh garlic in this recipe, but roasted garlic (which is very easy to make) would be super tasty with the pumpkin.
• Herbs / Spices - Rosemary works wonderfully here, but other fresh herbs, such as thyme or sage, would also be delicious. You could also experiment with different spices, like as cinnamon, ginger (fresh or ground), cumin, smoked paprika, cajun seasoning, and more. 
• Curry - Special shoutout to curry, which would be especially delicious in this recipe. You could either add a tablespoon of curry powder along with the garlic, or you could add a few tablespoon of red curry paste after you've sauteed the the garlic. Either way, let it cook for a minute or two (stirring constantly) to wake up the flavors.
• Spicy - Add a touch of heat by adding some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne along with the garlic. If you choose to add curry flavors, you could also stir in some chili garlic sauce (yum!) or drizzle a little sriracha on top.
• Coconut Milk - This recipe uses a touch of coconut milk as the creamy element. You really can't taste the coconut flavor, but if you'd prefer, you can replace it with heavy cream.

Tip: If you do make substitutions, keep the basic proportions the same. For example, replace one cup of carrots with one cup of sweet potatoes. Otherwise, the soup may turn out too thick or too thin.

Serving Ideas

This vegan Pumpkin Soup is bursting with warm, seasonal flavors and makes a great addition to any fall meal! It would be ideal for special occasions, like Thanksgiving, too.

Although the soup is fairly light, it actually tastes quite rich. So for a simple autumn meal, I'd pair it with crusty bread or Garlic Bread for dipping, plus a side salad (try this Roasted Pumpkin Salad or this Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad).

For a more festive meal, like Thanksgiving, try pairing it with this gorgeous Pomegranate Salad and an impressive main course, like my Roasted Vegetable Tart or this beautiful Mushroom Wellington. And of course, you could add all the traditional sides, like these Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Classic Bread Stuffing, and Cranberry Orange Sauce, too!

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to four days. To reheat, warm gently in your microwave or on in a small sauce pan on your stovetop.

Tip: If you're serving this recipe for a dinner party or special occasion, feel free to make the soup a couple days ahead of time. Then, simply reheat it when it's time to eat, adding a little extra broth or coconut milk to thin it, if needed.

Related Recipes

Looking for similar soups? Make sure to try my yummy Roasted Carrot Soup or this Creamy Celery Soup, too!

If it's more savory pumpkin recipes you're craving, don't miss my Pumpkin Couscous Salad, Pumpkin Lentil Curry, Pumpkin Coconut Curry, or this tasty Pumpkin Pizza. And make sure to save the seeds to make these Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!