A German Chef’s Secrets To The Perfect Pumpkin Soup

The color alone can make you feel warm inside. Pumpkin soup, a German favorite perfect for the start of the cold season. At the Park Café restaurant in Ludwigsburg, Laura Leidig shows us how to make a proper pumpkin soup. It's not difficult. We'll get to Laura's favorite variation shortly. But first, let's dive into the wonderful world of pumpkins. We visit the world's largest pumpkin exhibition in Ludwigsburg near St. Petersburg. There are some 700 varieties on show here. But beware, you can't serve up any old pumpkin. Ornamental gourds like these, with their funky colors and shapes, are just for show. Not the case for the beloved butternut squash, fortunately. Most pumpkins are harvested from the beginning of August. But some varieties need to ripen longer and can only be harvested in autumn. Like this jack-o'-lantern. It was bred specifically for Halloween. While they're perfectly edible and great for a warming soup, many prefer to carve them into ghoulish lanterns. Originally, pumpkins were native to Central and South America. They arrived in Europe after voyages of Columbus. Today, pumpkins are grown worldwide. European leaders in pumpkin cultivation are Ukraine, Spain and Italy. But how to turn a pumpkin into a delicious soup? For this recipe, Lara uses Hokkaido, or butternut squash. The biggest challenge is cutting the large, hard fruit. But she shows us a hack for easy carving. You can eat the skin, but what about the seeds? Rather than throwing them away, try roasting them in the oven, whole or shelled. For Lara's favorite pumpkin soup, she uses finely chopped ginger and diced onions. Then it's time to add the pumpkin. For acidity, Lara adds some orange juice. Then the soup is topped up with vegetable broth. To get that beautifully silky consistency, cream is a must. And it's vegan-friendly, too. Just use coconut milk instead. Cook down for about 20 minutes. And voila! The soup is ready for puree. There's nothing quite like a bowl of pumpkin soup to capture the essence of fall. A true comfort food for a cozy evening in as the days get shorter.