Decadently rich pumpkin hazelnut soup, completely dairy-free and plant-based!
I confess, I’ve been waiting for nine months to make a pumpkin soup just to show off this Staub pumpkin cocotte. Isn’t it CUTE? I had to do it justice, and I wanted to do a dairy-free soup that is rich, creamy, and ultra flavorful. Using hazelnuts as the creamy base does the trick, along with some gentle spices and application of Rebecca Katz’ FASS principle for perfect soup: the proper balance of Fat (olive oil), Acid (lemon juice), Sugar (maple syrup), and Salt (sea salt).
This recipe can be modified for low-sodium diets (omit the salt), Whole30 (omit the maple syrup). It’s not migraine-friendly because of the onion, hazelnuts, and lemon juice, any of which can be migraine triggers for some people.
Suitable for:
vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, celiac, paleo, Whole30, low-sodium diets
Not recommended for:
migraine diets
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- 1-1/2 cup hazelnuts raw, divided
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup onions sweet or brown, diced (1/2 large onion)
- 1 tsp dried cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder not garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt omit for low-sodium diet
- 1/4 tsp dried nutmeg
- 2-1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
- 15 ounces pumpkin purée
- 1 lemons juiced
- 1 tsp maple syrup plus a tiny more for garnish, omit for Whole30
- Soak 1 cup hazelnuts in enough filtered water to completely cover them for 4 hours.
- Toast remaining 1/2 cup hazelnuts in a dry skillet over low heat until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Roughly chop and set aside for garnish.
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Stir the onions to coat with oil, then sprinkle the spices and salt (if using) over. Sauté the onions until golden brown, about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
- Drain the soaked hazelnuts.
- Add the onions, soaked hazelnuts, vegetable stock, pumpkin purée, lemon juice, and maple syrup (if using) to the blender. Gradually bring up the speed on the blender. Blend until very smooth, adding more broth if necessary to reach the consistency you want. Use the tamper if you have a Vitamix.
- Return to the pan and cook for 10 minutes until very hot, stirring once in a while. Do not allow to boil.
- Pour into bowls and garnish each bowl with a few drops of maple syrup, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a sprinkle of chopped hazelnuts.
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