Creamy, comforting, yet wholesome, this Pumpkin Bisque is the perfect cold-weather dish to warm you up and leave you feeling satisfied.
Soups, Stews, & Everything In Between
Normally, when one hears 'bisque', seafood comes to mind. Lobster bisque was my favorite growing up (and still is) because I loved how rich it was. It was the perfect comfort food to me.
In fact for most of my formative years, I thought that's what differentiated bisque from soup. Well, of course as I got older and I learned the truth and all the small particulars that set soups, stews, bisques, and chowders, apart.
- Soup (zuppa!) - A stock-based dish that can be clear or creamy but usually high in liquid content. It can contain meat, fish, and/or vegetables. It also cooks up quicker than its counterparts.
- Stews - Hearty and somewhat brothy, the amount of liquid in stews is what sets these two apart mainly as well as their consistency. Stews features significantly less broth and a chunky base (think Beef Bourguignon). Furthermore, the longer you let soup simmer and reduce, the more likely it is to become a stew.
- Bisque - Originating from France, this variation is smooth, creamy, and highly seasoned. Both bisques and chowders were developed in fishing villages which is why most commonly today, you'll find seafood bisques and chowders. It achieves its creaminess from a starch, usually rice that is then strained, and once those ingredients are cooked down, it is then pureed for a smooth consistency.
- Chowders - Creamy, rich, but not so smooth. Chowders have chopped ingredients for a chunky, hearty final result. A thickening agent or creams, usually give chowders their richness.
For today's recipe, we chose an in-demand seasonal ingredient that is accessible, affordable, and versatile- pumpkin.
This recipe features other hearty ingredients like carrots and potatoes alongside the squash. We seasoned it with winter's warm herbs like rosemary and sage, salt and pepper for good measure, and saigon cinnamon- a warm but spicy type of cinnamon.
The recipe comes together surprisingly quickly. Once everything is cooked down and simmering, use an immersion blender to smooth it out into a creamy result. NOTE: if you don't have an immersion blender, you can certainly use a stand blender, but allow the soup to cool a bit first.
To serve, I suggest either topping it with some grated cheese, toasted pepitas, a dollop of sour cream, or just a sprinkling of your favorite herbs as I did. Flatbreads or a sliced Artisan loaf perfectly completes the meal too.
Pumpkin Bisque
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 large onion
- 4-5 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil or ghee, divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 5 fresh sage leaves, minced
- 2 small sprigs of rosemary, minced
- 2 tablespoons AP flour
- 2 cups chicken stock (or vegetable broth)
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 2 large potatoes, cubed
- 1 teaspoons Saigon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 cups filtered water
Instructions
- In a large frying pan, sauté onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons ghee until golden and translucent. Season with salt, pepper, sage, and rosemary. Add flour and stir until thickened. Gently whisk in chicken stock over low heat, whisking until the mixture has thickened. Set aside.
- In a large soup pot, cook down carrots and potatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons of ghee. Season with salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Add the pumpkin puree and water.
- Now add thickened onion mixture to the soup and stir to combine. Let simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
- Use your immersion blender to blend the soup into a thickened bisque. If you are using a stand blender, allow the soup to cool about 30 minutes before transferring. You can always reheat if the soup cooled too much.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
And that’s our Pumpkin Bisque. If you enjoyed today’s recipe, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you. Happy Cooking!
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Beth says
This is so perfect for the fall. Talk about classic autumn soup!
Luna S says
I've never tried this before, but it sounds and looks so good. I need to try this out!
Samantha Donnelly says
I do love homemade soup, there is something so satisfying about them, not tried pumpkin before
Laura says
I love this recipe so much! Pumpkin bisque is one of my favourite things to make. It is so rich and comforting.
Proseccobefore7 says
It is freezing here and although I am not a "soup person", I've been preparing them regularly. This recipe looks exactly like the kind of comforting food you want to have after a long rainy day outside the house. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah Lifestyle says
I love a homemade soup or stew, they always tatse so satisfying. Last night I made an ox cheek stew. SO good.
Rachel says
Whenever I hear Bisque, lobster definitely comes to mind, so you are right and whilst I am not a fan of pumpkin, the texture looks amazing x
briannemanzb says
We all love homemade soup, especially on cold days. I cannot wait to try this. Thank you.
Star Traci says
I actually appreciated the info about soups at the top. I am a texture eater and I now understand better why I do and do not like certain soups. I like smooth textures and will definitely try this recipe out. Thanks!
Paula Richie says
Enjoy your Pumpkin Bisque. No one in my household will eat soup unless they are ill. But it is 34 degrees outside...
Jupiter Hadley says
Sounds like a very lovely pumpkin soup! It's soup season, so good to have more on hand.
DAVID J MYERS says
Catherine, We've never had pumpkin soup before...bisque or not. Looks and sounds amazing! I know that my better half will go for this cold weather warmer upper... Take Care, Big Daddy Dave