Roasted Kuri Squash Soup with Harissa, roasted crispy chickpeas, toasted pumpkin seeds and an optional swirl of “smoked” yogurt. A delicious, healthy vegetarian meal.
Have you ever tried a Red Kuri Squash? Sweet, nutty, chestnut flavored and just plain cute – they have me a bit smitten. Here’s an easy recipe for Roasted Kuri Squash Soup with Smokey Harissa and Crispy Chickpeas. The Moroccan flavors of Harissa give this robust soup a little heat and smokiness, and an earthiness from caraway and cumin seeds.
And know of course, this can be made with most any roasted winter squash, but I especially love the deep red-orange colored flesh of Kuri squash. Here, the Harissa is simplified down into a few simple spices, but feel free to use harissa paste instead. The chickpeas crisp up in the oven at the same time as the squash, so once the squash is done, the soup comes together fairly quickly… perfect for a weeknight meal. Drizzle with plain yogurt or labneh, or use the “smoked” yogurt from my Moroccan stuffed sweet potato recipe a couple weeks back.
On the home front…our house has been filled with music. Brian got us a record player and new speakers and we’ve been playing all our old tunes. It never ceases to amaze how music, like smell and taste, can transport us to another place and time. I’ve been listening to stuff I listened to way back in my teens, and with it, came a reminder of my younger self. The self that loved to dance and be silly and carefree. I almost forgot about her.
Garnish the Kuri Squash Soup with yogurt, crispy chickpeas, toasted pumpkin seeds, aleppo chili pepper and fresh cilantro. The yogurt really helps give this soup a contrasting “coolness” that I really enjoy, and everything else gives it a satisfying crunchy texture.
Red-orange kuri squash have a beautiful pumpkin shape, but without the ridges. They are sweet and nutty…. with hint of chestnut.
Hope you enjoy…. and let me know what you think!
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Roasted Kuri Squash Soup with Smokey Harissa and Crispy Chickpeas
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 4
- Category: Soup, vegetarain
- Method: Roasted
- Cuisine: Moroccan
Description
Roasted Kuri Squash Soup with Harissa, roasted chickpeas, toasted pumpkin seeds and “smoked” yogurt – a hearty, delicous vegetarian soup!
Ingredients
- 2 lb Red Kuri Squash ( or small pumpkin, or acorn squash)
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed ( or 1 cup soaked, dry garbanzos), patted dry.
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- pinch salt
- pinch pepper
- ——
- 2 Tablespoon coconut oil, ghee or butter
- 1/2 onion- diced
- 1 apple – diced
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1–2 tablespoons harissa paste (or sub: 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (or ground),1 teaspoon coriander seeds (or ground) 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, 1 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (for medium spicy)
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4– 4 1/2 cups water or stock
Garnish – plain yogurt, “smoked yogurt”, crispy chickpeas, toasted pumpkin seeds, chopped cilantro and scallions
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 425F
- Cut squash in half lengthwise, scrape out seeds with a spoon and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, open side down. Roast squash in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until very tender and soft and caramelized.
- To make crispy chickpeas, drain and rinse chickpeas, pat dry with paper towels. toss with olive oil ( enough to lightly coat) salt, pepper and smoked paprika and spread out on a separate sheet pan.
- Roast chickpeas,until crispy about 20 minutes.
- In a medium pot, heat coconut oil over medium-high. Saute the onion and apple for 2-3 minutes, stirring, then add garlic, turning heat down to medium. Saute 5 more minutes until garlic is fragrant and golden and onions are tender. Add harissa paste (or spices) and toast for 1 minute, stirring. Remove from heat.
- Add the onion, apple mix to the blender with 1 cup of water (use this to rinse out the pot). Blend well, taking care to cover blender with a towel, holding lid down VERY tightly. Blend until spices and onions are very smooth. Place back in the pot.
- Lift off the skins of the squash and discard. Blend the squash with the remaining water (or stock) and the salt until very smooth, and place back in the pot, stirring. Heat over medium-low heat, adding vinegar and maple. Adjust salt to taste.
- Serve with a swirl of plain yogurt or “smoked yogurt”, crispy chickpeas, toasted pumpkin seeds, Aleppo chili flakes, and fresh cilantro.
- Instead of the spices you could stir in a few teaspoons or more to taste, of harissa paste. The “smoked Yogurt” is basically plain yogurt mixed with a bit of smoked paprika.
Notes
- Instead of the spices you could stir in a few teaspoons or more to taste, of harissa paste.
- The “smoked yogurt” is basically plain yogurt mixed with a bit of smoked paprika. You could actually cold smoke yogurt- place a shallow pan of yogurt over a bigger pan of ice in a smoker and smoke for 30 mintues.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: without yogurt
- Calories: 235
- Sugar: 8.2 g
- Sodium: 898.7 mg
- Fat: 9.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 33.9 g
- Fiber: 8.1 g
- Protein: 6.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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I was looking for a squash soup recipe and the chickpeas and harissa were callling my name! It’s just as delicious as it sounds and looks. I used 1 tablespoon of Trader Joe’s harissa and it was the perfect spice level for us. Will definitely make again!
Thanks so much Cindy, really appreciate the review!
Hi Sylvia,
Do you think a butternut squash would work with this recipe?
I do Donna! It would work great!
Thank you Sylvia! I’ll make it tonight.
Excellent fall soup! Btw I was not sure if I should put the Kuri squash skin in but went with my gut and did it. Still super smooth. Added some pomegranate seeds as a garnish…highly recommend this. Bright and tart juxtaposition to the soup.
Oops I forgot to specify! Sorry about that Jen- and glad it turned out ok. Will update the recipe!
This soup is fantastic! I too use a really good Rose harissa paste in place of the spices but still use the Aleppo pepper because I love the flavor. Have you tried freezing this soup?
Great to hear Tammy- glad you enjoyed. I have not tried freezing but I think it would work just fine!
Red Kuri Squash skin is edible (and quite good too!)
This looks great. Do you scoop out the squash or cut up the whole think with skin?
Scooped it out.
Absolutely fantastic! I LOVE all the flavor and textures. Simply delightful. New favorite for the family! Thank you 🙏
This pumpkin soup is thé best pumpkin soup I ever had!! I made this for a party and everyone was asking me for the recipe! Really really good!!!! ❤️
Wow! I’m so glad you enjoyed this! Thanks for the comment and rating!
This soup made me smile and saying to myself, this is soo good!! Thank you so much for this great recipe.
Everything that I made from your website is always a big hit.
Awww… thanks so much Cindy, appreciate this!
I’m confused about the spices. Is the smoked paprika listed for the soup or for the crispy beans? It is oddly in the middle of the list, which makes me think that amount is for the soup.
Hey Dona! Sorry for the delay…I admit, I am a bit confused too! Ok, I just fixed it… thanks ( I put some in both).
Thanks for the response! I was cooking for my spice-adverse little one, so I put the whole amount of paprika on the chickpeas and none in the soup. I also left out the cayenne. Worked great for us! I’ll add a bit to the soup next time I make it, though.
I’m glad it turned out- have a beautiful weekend Dona!
Wow! Just made this and it was superb. I used a readymade Harissa paste with rose petals. Lovely complex flavour and really comforting after taste. thank you!
oh Good- Glad you enjoyed….. and rose petals! Wow. I’m seriously impressed.
This looks so delicious, my mouth is watering! Great photos! 🙂