Whole Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin soup: Hearty, seasonal and surprisingly not a big ol' mess.

This delicious soup served straight out of the pumpkin is easy to make. All you have to do is scoop out the seeds, pour in some chicken stock and roast in the oven.

Voilà! The jack-o'-lantern you can eat with a spoon.

Ingredients

One 3- to 4-pound cheese pumpkin
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 leek, halved and thinly sliced
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Using a paring knife, cut a tapered circle around the stem of the pumpkin (as if you were making a jack-o'-lantern). Remove the top of the pumpkin and trim any stringy bits. Scoop out the pumpkin seeds with a spoon and discard (or save, if desired).

3. Place the rosemary, thyme and sliced leek in the cavity of the pumpkin. Pour in the chicken stock and season with black pepper. Add the grated Parmesan cheese, then replace the top of the pumpkin.

4. Transfer the whole pumpkin to the prepared baking sheet and roast in the oven until the exterior of the pumpkin is golden brown and shiny, and the flesh inside is very tender, 1½ to 2 hours. (If the exterior is browning too quickly, reduce the oven temperature to 375°F.)

5. Remove the pumpkin from the oven and take off the top. To serve the soup, scoop several spoonfuls of pumpkin flesh from the inside, place in a bowl and top with a ladleful of broth. Finish with more pepper and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Watch the video to learn how it's done:

Find more great recipes visit PureWow Recipes.