Pumpkins are in season right now and although a lot of varieties of winter squash are available all winter, pumpkins usually disappear quickly after Halloween so I have been wanting to do more with them while they are here. In fact I have several pie pumpkins sitting on my counter just waiting to be used and I figured that it was a perfect time to do so. With the cooling weather I was thinking that a pumpkin soup would hit the spot.
After contemplating about pumpkin soups for a while I settled in on the idea of a thick soup base using pumpkin puree flavoured with pancetta and sage. With that in mind I started to build the soup up with a base of onions, carrots, celery and garlic. From there I added some broth and pumpkin puree as the liquids followed by the pancetta and sage for the flavour. I particularly enjoy beans in soup and since I could not shake the idea of adding some white beans, I did so to make the soup even heartier. I also kept coming back to the thought of using a ham hock to add even more smokey flavour and then I remembered seeing smoked turkey legs at the store and the turkey and pumpkin combo sounded perfect so I went with that. Both a ham hock and a smoked turkey leg can be simmered in soups to impart their tremendous flavour to the soup and then if you like you can pull the meat off of the bones and add it to the soup after it is done simmering. With that decision made, I knew that my roast pumpkin soup would just be packed with flavour and I had my recipe!
Although it takes a bit of time, this soup is pretty easy to prepare. Making your own
pumpkin puree
but it is actually really easy and that is the route that I took but you could easily use canned. Speaking of pumpkins, this soup could also be made with butternut squash or any other kind of winter squash such as kabocha. If you are roasting your own pumpkin puree you can do that a day ahead of time to lighten the load on the day that you make the soup. After you have your pumpkin puree, this soup is as easy as dicing some vegetables, sauteing them, adding all of the ingredients and simmering for a while to let all of the flavours come out and mingle. Note: I wanted a nice and thick and chunky soup but if you prefer a smoother consistency you could easily add more broth and puree all of the diced vegetables and beans.
I served this savoury roasted pumpkin and pancetta soup with sage and smoked turkey garnished with crumbled crispy fried pancetta, crispy fried sage and toasted pepitas. While I was thinking about ideas for pumpkin soup recipes one Idea that I had was a simple sweet pumpkin and tangy gorgonzola soup and since pumpkin and blue cheese go so well together I incorporated that idea into this soup by serving it with some gorgonzola garlic bread!
Roasted Pumpkin, Pancetta and Sage Soup
A thick and hearty roast pumpkin soup with pancetta, sage, white beans and smoked turkey that is just packed with flavour!
ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 pound pancetta, diced
- 1 cup onion (diced)
- 1/2 cup carrot (diced)
- 1/2 cup celery (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth or chicken stock
- 2 cups pumpkin puree
- 1 smoked turkey leg
- 1 tablespoon sage, thinly sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup sliced pancetta, cooked and crumbled
- 8 sage leaves, sauteed in butter until crispy
- 1/4 cup pepitas, toasted
directions
- Heat the oil in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the pancetta and cook until just before it starts to get crispy, about 7-10 minutes and set it aside.
- Add the onion, celery and carrot and saute until tender, about 7-10 minutes.
- Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
- Puree a quarter of the beans in a food processor with some of the chicken broth.
- Add the beans, broth, pumpkin puree, pancetta, smoked turkey leg, sage and bay leaf and bring to a boil.
- Season with salt and pepper, reduce the heat and simmer for about 20-30 minutes.
- Remove the turkey leg, shred the meat and mix it back into the soup.
- Serve garnished with crispy fried pancetta, sage leaves and pepitas.
Pumpkin Risotto
Penne with Pumpkin and Sage Sauce
Butternut Squash Soup
Pumpkin and Shrimp Bisque
If you can't find me, it's because I'm happily buried at the bottom of this bowl, eating my way out.
Amen.
That's one soup full of amazing flavors!
This sounds lovely!
A great pairing! That soup must taste just fabulous.
Cheers,
Rosa
Any suggestion to substitute pancetta?
Thank Mike
Mike: Bacon would work as a substitution for the pancetta.
I love that you left this soup chunky! This really is packed with some awesome texture and delicious flavor!
This sounds fabulous!!
So excited that pumpkin season is in full swing.. this looks totally delicious and I'm excited about trying it.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Yes, bacon sounds like a great substitute. Pancetta is a little too salty for me. Great recipe, though.
I made this last night with store bought puree (i'm lazy!) and turkey….delicious. Also, I made your pumpkin quiche, I substituted goat cheese for the gorgonzola…..and it was amazing. I had to fight my fiance for the last slice! Thanks for the great recipes!
Yum, this looks so good! Pancetta & pumpkin… perfect combo.
Kevin, thanks for this recipe. I love all savory things pumpkin. I made a savory pumpkin pizza with some of the same flavors you've got here, and could have thrown on some pancetta. It was amazing, so I thought I'd pass it along if you're interested: http://eggton.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/space-camp-1992-and-savory-pumpkin-pizza/
Thanks again!
Your soup recipe was amazing! Thank you! Will totally make again!
Envious! I've had such a crush on pumpkin since I had it grilled (for the first time) and served with spiced yoghurt in Aussie. Pumpkin is a little pricey here in Singapore so I buy it as a treat over other vegetables. This looks absolutely tantalising and like something I'd try next!
Most anything that includes sage – as an ingredient or simply a garnish – will appeal to me. This really sounds yummy and seasonal!
I love fall for recipes just like this one. Great job incorporating fantastic flavors together that tie in perfectly with one another.
This looks lovely, I may have to try this Kevin!!
Thanks Kevin!I was in your shoes too,eating only a few dishes over and over again,your recipes inspires me to try to vary my cooking,keep up the good work!
This will be my Halloween lunch for a special friend. I just love your tastebuds!
Roast pumpkin soup with sage butter recipe,, very delicious!
I try this recipe yesterday and it taste delicious..Keep me updated on new soup recipe you have..
Great combination. Since I read your pumpkin recipe last year with the roasted pumpkin, I make them all the time and they can be varied in so many ways after this. Definitely will try this one, have to search for sage, though, think the dogs killed it..