Easy Microwave Pumpkin Soup
Translated from my original Japanese post (2018). 日本語の原文を読む →
It's Yoko, a food blogger.
Today I'm sharing a recipe for a pumpkin soup you can make easily with just a microwave!
You can enjoy it chilled, but with the colder season coming, I think it's best served warm.
I get cold easily, so I'm terrible with the cold (sob).
By the way, I finish this recipe with a certain secret seasoning to boost the umami! (grin)
It's a trick you can use when making other soups too, so give it a try!
Easy Microwave Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients (serves 2)
| Kabocha pumpkin | 250 g |
|---|---|
| Onion | 1/4 |
| Milk | 250 ml |
| Aburaage (thin fried tofu) | a little |
| Soy sauce | 1/2 tsp |
| Butter | 1 tsp |
| Salt and pepper | a little |
| Spices (if you have them, such as cumin or cinnamon) | a little |
1. Chop the aburaage into 1 cm cubes, put it on a heatproof plate lined with a paper towel, and microwave (600 W) for about 2 minutes until crisp. Grate the onion, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and microwave (600 W) for about 3 minutes.
2. Cut the pumpkin into roughly 5 cm chunks and microwave (600 W) for about 10 minutes until soft. Remove the skin if you like, put the pumpkin in a bowl, add the butter and about 2 tablespoons of the milk, and mash into a paste with a whisk or fork. Mix well until it's as smooth as you like.
3. Add the onion, soy sauce, and the rest of the milk to step 2 and mix well. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and microwave (600 W) for about 3 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and spices, then chill well in the refrigerator.
Tips
You can make it without a blender!
Do you think you need a blender or an immersion blender to make soup?
I used to think so too. I even bought a Bamix (lol).
But actually you can make it without one!
Microwave the pumpkin until it's soft all the way through and whisk it really well, and you'll get a thick, smooth texture.
If you're aiming for a thinner soup, use a strainer.
Aburaage instead of croutons
A smooth soup is even better with croutons for some crunch.
But who keeps croutons at home all the time? (lol) So this recipe uses aburaage!
Aburaage is made from soybeans, so people with a wheat allergy can eat it too!
A lot of people probably have aburaage in the freezer, right?
Just cut it into 1 cm cubes and microwave it, and it turns out just like real croutons.
Soy sauce as a hidden flavor
I added just a little soy sauce as a secret ingredient.
The flavor of soy sauce is strong, so be careful not to add too much!
With just a bit, the soup has a depth of umami even without bouillon.
Recommended wine
Here's a wine I recommend for this recipe.
I recommend Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs, from the famous South African winery Graham Beck!
This wine has a refreshing acidity, and it's said that former President Obama drank it to celebrate his inauguration. It's a lively wine, great for parties and anniversaries!
I've written a short explainer on South African wine below, so have a read if you're curious.
