Roasted Pumpkin and Chickpea Soup

This is another pureed soup that you will definitely love. You can prepare this ahead of time and serve it the following day. They is a healthy soup but with a little indulgence from the cream and the bacon. You can omit them but it will never be the same. However, you can serve this with Greek yogurt (with chopped rosemary) which is also fantastic and garnish with chopped fresh parsley for freshness.



I would love to make this soup with butternut squash instead of pumpkin. Although I heard that butternut squash are grown here, they are still hard to find. They are not found in common areas like the place I usually go to. But this soup is good even with pumpkin. Pumpkin along with the other winter squash is high in beta-carotene, the antioxidant nutrient that lowers cancer risk. It is also high in fiber which is useful in easing food through the intestines and helping clear waste.



I love using dried chickpeas because they are superior in flavor than canned chickpeas. Some of the skins are just falling apart after I cook them. So, I save one cup of peeled chickpeas and puree the rest without the need to remove the skin. They do add texture and consistency to the soup. Chickpeas are one of the legumes which are high in zinc, an immune booster that helps ward off colds.



Roasted pumpkins are really delicious. You can just scoop them out onto a bowl, serve with a dollop of yogurt and honey with a little of salt and dive in. The simplest things are sometimes the best things in the world. And the aroma of roasted pumpkin is just pure bliss.



Although not necessary to make, the whipped and frozen cream will melt into the soup slowly and that’s how you want it so the soup stays hot longer. And, the bacon adds another layer of texture.

I was making this soup in the middle of the heat this afternoon. I thought summer is over. But when the sun shines in the Philippines, it’s really hot. But with the unpredictable weather here, you’ll never know when it’s going to rain. And it did. The clouds covered the sky and it started to rain. So, I guess that soup is meant to be served tonight.

This soup is quite filling. So, if you ate too much the other day, you can have this soup along with this wonderful Orange and Watercress Salad and you're set for the night.

This Roasted Pumpkin and Chickpea Soup is found at Rouxbe Online Cooking School (Rouxbe Certified). Just click on the print friendly button to print. Remember to visit their Homemade Soup Recipes collection. Their Thai Coconut Squash Soup is fantastic. Enjoy.