This hearty pumpkin soup calls for pumpkin puree, but feel free to use the same amount of fresh pumpkin. Likewise, use any type of bean - black, pinto and borlotti beans would also work well in this recipe!
You can find tinned 100% pumpkin puree at Waitrose, via Ocado or in specialty shops. You can also make your own with this recipe.
Make this soup vegetarian by using vegetable stock or water instead of chicken stock.
I found this exact recipe on Recipezaar and love it! Although that recipe did not call for cilantro - it called for 1 tsp. curry, 1 1/2 tsp cumin and 1/2 tsp cayenne - I would knock the cayenne back to 1/4 though...it was pretty spicy!! And I made it with fresh pumpkin - takes a little time to cut, peel, boil and mash the pumpkin - but tasted great and a nice way to use pumpkins this fall! - 06 Oct 2008 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)
This sounds great, I like to use grated ginger (fresh) with pumpkin or winter squash. A hint about cooking fresh pumpkin: cut in half scoop out the seeds (bake and eat the seeds) then place on oven safe pan with 1/2 inch water and roast in a 300 degrees till tender, brings out the flavor and when cooled a bit you just scoop out the pulp, NO PEELING! works for me every time. - 10 Oct 2008 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)
This is a great soup with a few changes for my family. We used white beans, no corn, and with the suggestions of others added,1/2 tsp more cumin, 2 tsp fresh ginger, 2 tsp curry powder, and almost a 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper. Very tasty! - 10 Oct 2008 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)