But today’s recipe is a special, island-inspired Pumpkin Ginger Soup. If you have been following me for a while you know that we lived in the Caribbean for years. This soup recipe is from those days. Back in 2013, my husband and I vacationed on an island called Dominica. Dominica is known as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean”. It is simply stunning with waterfalls, rivers, ocean, and pure green everywhere. I learned this healthy creamy pumpkin soup recipe at a cooking class that we took during our trip. Up until then, I had no idea that you could make a creamy pumpkin soup without using heavy cream. To my surprise, their dairy-free, low-carb, and vegan version of our favorite fall soup was just as creamy and delicious as the one I made for years. Not to mention, it only took 30 minutes to make. Honestly, with all the pumpkin that is currently in abundance, I cannot imagine a better way to use it than making this nourishing and heartwarming soup recipe. Intrigued? Let’s break it down.
Ingredients
All it takes is a handful of simple, seasonally inspired ingredients. Gather together vegetable broth, fresh ginger, fresh cubed pumpkin, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and toasted, unsweetened coconut flakes.
A few helpful tips for ingredients:
Vegetable Broth: Go for a low-sodium vegetable broth, either dark or light in color. This helps control the salt content in the recipe. If you are okay with it not being vegan, you can also use chicken stock.Ginger: I like to purchase a knob of fresh ginger, peel, and grate it fresh. I use a Microplane grater to grate ginger easily.Pumpkin: Fresh pumpkin pops up in grocery stores around September. Sugar or pie pumpkin is smaller and sweeter, while the larger pumpkin squash is earthier. That being said, any winter squash will do. Butternut, acorn, or kabocha are all great options.Coconut Flakes: This was the garnish used in Dominica and the one I stick to as the finishing touch. If you have time, toast it in a skillet for a few minutes for that nice roasted flavor.
How to make pumpkin ginger soup?
This homemade pumpkin soup recipe is so easy, it’s ready before you can say, “Pumpkin”! Simply:
Variations for the recipe:
If you liked this pumpkin soup with ginger but would like to switch it up every once in a while, here are a few variations I tried in the past:
Use Roasted Pumpkin to make Roasted Pumpkin Ginger Soup: For a touch more depth, roast the cubed pumpkin in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30-40 minutes, or until tender. Add to the simmering vegetable broth, season to taste, and blend straight away.Add in an Apple and make Pumpkin Apple Soup: Add 1 peeled, cored, and diced apple along with the pumpkin. This adds a subtle sweetness that balances the earthy pumpkin flavor.Swap a portion of the broth with Coconut Milk: Replace 1 cup of vegetable broth with 1 cup of coconut milk. For best results, add the coconut milk at the very end after blending. Adjust seasonings accordingly.
Serving suggestions:
My husband and I enjoy this soup as a healthy, plant-powered dinner with a toasted slice of no knead bread. I love the traditional garnish of toasted, unsweetened coconut flakes and a dash of cayenne adds another level of spice. For some plant-based, vegan protein, feel free to top it with crispy chickpeas from sweet potato soup instead. It’s too much for one night for the two of us, so we enjoy the leftovers for lunch throughout the week, too.
How to store? Instructions to store in the fridge & freezer:
Storage: The pumpkin ginger soup will keep best in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.Freezing: To freeze, cool completely and transfer to a freezer-safe container. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thawing: Thaw overnight in the fridge. When ready to reheat, bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, reheat individual portions in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
If you liked this soup recipe, you might also like:
Vegetarian Butternut Squash SoupRoasted Kabocha Squash SoupCurry Tomato SoupTurkish Lentil SoupJerusalem Artichoke SoupBroccoli and Feta SoupNeed more inspiration? Check out all our Soup Recipes.
Other pumpkin recipes you might also like:
Almond Flour Pumpkin MuffinsPumpkin Oat MuffinsEasy Pumpkin Bread RecipePumpkin Sage Pasta SaucePumpkin WafflesPumpkin Maple Bread PuddingVegan Pumpkin ShakePumpkin Quinoa Chili
This Pumpkin and Ginger Soup recipe was originally published in November 2013. It has been updated with new photos and helpful information in October 2020.
