There are two kinds of pumpkins—those intended for carving jack-o’-lanterns, and those that are usually smaller and rounder, with thick, fleshy skins, which are intended for pumpkin pies. Either kind of pumpkin is suitable for soup, though you may need to drain the jack-o’-lantern’s cooked flesh to concentrate the pulp. In the convection oven, you can roast the pumpkin to make pumpkin puree. See the Note below.

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　2 tablespoons butter

　　1 medium onion, finely chopped

　　2 cups chicken broth

　　2 cups roasted pumpkin puree (see Note)

　　1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

　　Salt

　　1/3 cup unsweetened heavy cream, whipped, plus more for garnish

　　Toasted chopped pecans for garnish

　　

Step 1

Melt the butter in a small soup pot over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and translucent, 4 to 6 minutes.

　　

Step 2

Add the chicken broth and pumpkin puree and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes. Put the puree in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the nutmeg and salt to taste; stir in the cream. Serve hot or chilled, topped with more cream and toasted pecans.

　　Cooks' Note

　　To make roasted pumpkin puree, position the oven racks so that they are evenly spaced. Preheat the oven to convection roast at 350°F. Cover two or three shallow-rimmed baking pans or cookie sheets with foil and coat with nonstick spray. Wash 6 to 9 small pumpkins, each one no more than 6 inches in diameter. Split them and scoop out the seeds. Place them cut side down on the prepared pans. Roasting time will be about 30 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a fork or wooden skewer into the pumpkins. When done, remove the pumpkins from the oven and cool. Scoop the flesh from the skins and puree it in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Measure 2 cups puree and put into a heavy-duty pint-sized zip-top plastic bag, using as many bags as needed. Place the bags in the freezer one on top of the other, stacked flat. Thaw as needed. Frozen pumpkin puree will keep 3 to 4 months.

　　From Cooking with Convection by Beatrice Ojankangas. Copyright (c) 2005 by Beatrice Ojankangas. Published by Broadway Books.Beatrice Ojakangas has written more than a dozen cookbooks, including Beatrice Ojakangas' Great Holiday Baking Book, Beatrice Ojakangas' Light and Easy Baking, Pot Pies, Quick Breads, Light Desserts, The Finnish Cookbook, and The Great Scandinavian Baking Book. Beatrice works as a consultant for Pillsbury and other major food companies, teaches cooking classes, and writes for various food magazines. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.