Whole Baked Pumpkin Soup

Name: Whole Baked Pumpkin Soup
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 2 (3- to 3 1/2-pound) whole orange pumpkins (such as Hokkaido); 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) dry white wine; 2 teaspoons canola oil; 1 cup raw pepitas; 2 1/4 teaspoona fine sea salt, divided; 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (7 ounces), divided; 3 1/2 cups water

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Baking pumpkins whole traps steam inside the vegetable, resulting in a lush, velvety pumpkin puree, and making the skins easy to remove. A simple reduction of dry white wine mingles with butter to balance the sweetness of the pumpkin. The recipe was one prepared by Copenhagen chef Christian F. Puglisi at a week-long culinary retreat at Rocca delle Tre Contrade in Sicily.

By Christian Puglisi

Updated on September 1, 2020

Whole Baked Pumpkin Soup — Photo: Aubrie Pick

Active Time:

50 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 5 mins

Yield:

6

Ingredients

2 (3- to 3 1/2-pound) whole orange pumpkins (such as Hokkaido)
1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) dry white wine
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 cup raw pepitas
2 1/4 teaspoona fine sea salt, divided
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (7 ounces), divided
3 1/2 cups water

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place whole pumpkins on baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until very tender, about 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, pour wine into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high. Boil, without stirring, until wine has reduced by about half, about 10 minutes. Keep warm; set aside.
Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Add pepitas, and cook, stirring often, until seeds are puffed, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels, and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside. In the same skillet, melt 7 tablespoons butter over medium. Cook, stirring often, until butter browns, about 6 minutes. Set aside.
Remove skin and stems from pumpkins, and cut pumpkins in half. Scoop out and discard seeds. Working in 3 batches, combine hot pumpkin, 31/2 cups water, and remaining 7 tablespoons butter in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid to allow steam to escape. Place a clean towel over opening. Process until smooth, about 1 minute per batch. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Stir in reduced wine and remaining 2 teaspoons salt.
Sprinkle servings with sautéed pepitas, and drizzle with brown butter.

Make Ahead

Soup can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in refrigerator. Reheat in a Dutch oven over medium. Make sautéed pepitas and brown butter just before serving.