Kiwis Can Cook: Pumpkin Pie for America, Pumpkin Soup for New Zealand

Remember, our seasons are different here, so pumpkins are more plentiful in April-ish. They are still available in different times of the year, they're just harder to get your hands on.

Pumpkin soup is one of the best and easiest soups to make and it's super filling.

You will need:

• 1 pumpkin
• bacon
• olive oil (optional)
• nutmeg (optional)

Depending on the size of the pumpkin and the number of people you're feeding, decide how much pumpkin you will need. We usually get a medium sized pumpkin and are just feeding the two of us, so we only use half of the pumpkin.

Peel and cut it up into chunks about the size you would cut potatoes into if you were boiling them.

Put the pumpkin chunks in a pot with some boiling water.

Cook up a few pieces of bacon (because everything's better with bacon). The amount of bacon you want in it is totally up to you. The more bacon, the better, in my opinion. Throw that bacon into the pot with the pumpkin.

Once the pumpkin is soft, mash it with a potato masher, or, for thinner, less lumpy soup, use a hand blender or mixer.

Once ladled into a bowl, pour a bit of olive oil around the top and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Serve with toast and butter/butter substitute if you want something a little extra.

I LOVE pumpkin soup!
Photo by Erin Grigson

So. Good.

This time of year, for my American readers, this is a really good meal.

I know you're probably wanting pumpkin pie right about now, but trust me. Once you've had pumpkin soup, you'll make it your go-to meal for fall/winter.

We have it a few times a month and it really does the trick!

Have you had pumpkin soup? What's your favorite pumpkin soup recipe? Let me know!