Saturday, November 1, 2014

Pumpkin Fall Harvest Soup- gluten free and vegan


vegan fall harvest soup with pumpkin

This light savory fall harvest soup has a warming broth and a rich satisfying flavor. It is easy to make, ( like all of my soups) and even includes some homemade pumpkin puree.

I was looking for a good fast soup for the damp and cold Halloween Eve that incorporated the fall harvest. I wasn't disappointed in this naturally gluten free and vegan winner. I needed it to be really good! Why?

I was invited to my son and daughter in laws house to eat dinner and to also see the grandkids in their Halloween costumes. As with many Halloweens that I can remember, it was a cold and damp evening in Pennsylvania. I wanted to bring some soup to take off the chill both in the house and our bodies.

I could have made my popular pumpkin pie soup, which is blended with sweet apple cider and creamy coconut milk . But I wanted something that was not going to be sweet ( there was going to be enough sweets that night with all the Halloween candy)

I had some unsweetened roasted homemade pumpkin puree left from pumpkin rice pudding that I had made the day before ( you could use canned if time  doesn't allow ) . I also had a large white organic potato, organic sweet potatoes, organic onion and organic parsley left from my CSA farm pick up this week . I knew these ingredients could help flavor a tasty savory soup. We were not disappointed. 

We were 8 adults and 4 kids. Before everyone left to trick or treat, the pot of soup and everyone's soup bowls were licked clean. It was a good soup!

So there you have it- a fall harvest soup recipe that was born from what I had in my kitchen: Onions, sweet potato, white potato, pumpkin puree, and parsley.

With just 5 or 6 ingredients, it was a simple, yet delicious soup.

Although I made it for Halloween, it certainly is worthy of being brought to the Thanksgiving table. It is light, so it can go with a heavy meal. It's a perfect vegan choice as well.
All of my recipes meet real food and gluten free standards.

Ingredients: 
1 large onion, diced
olive oil 
1 large white potato- peeled and chopped
1 large sweet potato- peeled and chopped
1 cup of homemade unsweetened pumpkin puree ( or canned)
1/2 cup of parsley
6 cups vegetable broth +2 cups
4 cups water + 2 cups
2 Tablespoons of salt free mixed seasoning ( I used 21 Salute salt free spice mix from Trader Joes)- or add fresh garlic, black pepper, onion powder, dried thyme etc.
optional: 1/4 teaspoon of ground turmeric to add a stronger orange/yellow color and some valuable antioxidants that the pretty spice provides. ( if you decide to use the turmeric, remember- turmeric stains, so be careful of tablecloths and clothing!)

Directions: 
In a soup pot sauté the onion in olive oil for a few minutes. Add the chopped white potato, chopped sweet potato and continue to sauté on low. When the potatoes are partially cooked, add the 6 cups of broth, 4 cups of water, the pumpkin puree,  seasoning and the parsley.  Cook on medium heat until the potatoes are soft and begin to fall apart. Add 2 more cups of vegetable broth and 2 cups of water and cook for about another 10 minutes uncovered

Note: I find that in all soups, the flavor of the vegetable broth that you use can make a difference in the taste of the soup. Find one that you really like or make your own from all of your vegetable scraps. I usually make my own, but will use Tabatchnicks if I am really in a hurry.

My friend Laura keeps a large baggie in the freezer and adds scraps of onion, celery, carrot, bell pepper, potato peels, mushrooms etc.to the baggie each day to freeze them ( instead of throwing them away)  until she has enough to make a nice vegetable stock for her soups.

cut up sweet potato and white potato
Cut up sweet potato and white potato

pumpkin puree
Homemade Pumpkin Puree made by roasting a small "sugar pumpkin" variety of pumpkin and scooping and mashing- see directions roasted homemade pumpkin puree 


Everything simmering in a pot

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16 comments:

  1. This soup looks fabulous Judee--simple, not too heavy and perfect for a fall evening. I bet that homemade pumpkin puree adds lots of flavor and texture. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays this week. ;-)

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    1. Hi Deb,
      Anytime I am looking for a good soup, I think of Souper Sunday . I love all your soup shares and your weekly soup linky share.

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  2. Looks very comforting! Lots of vitamin A in this soup!

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    1. It's true and who can't use more Vit A. It's so good for you. I always feel tat soup is a good way to boost our nutrition because it contains so many health giving vegetables like onions an garlic too.

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  3. This looks perfect for warming the body on a chilly night. Popping by from Creative Mondays.

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    1. That is my feelings exactly. Make soup to warm up. Our nights are getting very chilly, windy and damp which is typical fall weather in Bucks County, pa

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  4. Whoo this looks warming and oh so tasty :)

    Thanks for linking up #Creativemondays

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    1. Thanks for a great linky carnival and thanks for tweeting it always!

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  5. Delicious soup Judee love to try it as weather is getting chilly thanks for sharing with Hearth and Soul blog hop.

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  6. Thank you Judee for such a great recipe! It sounds so tasty and looks so pretty! Thanks for sharing at Celebrate It!

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  7. Perfect soup for Fall. The name says it all!!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  8. What a lovely, flavourful fall soup, Judee! Thank you for sharing it with us at the Hearth and Soul hop.

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  9. Hi Judee,
    What could be tastier than Pumpkin Fall Harvest Soup! Thank you so much for sharing this healthy and delicious recipe at the Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I appreciate it!

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  10. We will just love your Fall Harvest Soup, it looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope you stay warm and cozy on this cold day.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  11. With tasty seasonal ingredients like these, who can resist this hearty, healthy soup. Thank you for sharing your Pumpkin Fall Harvest Soup with us at the Plant-based Potluck Party. I'm pinning and sharing.

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  12. This is definitely soup weather and this one looks delicious! Thank you! Congrats on being featured at The Plant-Based Potluck :)

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Your comments are appreciated. I love knowing who is stopping by to read my posts! Have a great day.

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