This pumpkin broccoli soup is a deliciously comforting bowlful. Easy to make, hearty but not heavy, it's just the thing when there's a chill in the air.

bowl of pumpkin broccoli soup with cheddar with second bowl behind

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Autumn/fall always used to hold an element of dread for me. After all, as it starts to get colder, you just know it's going to get colder still and for a long time.

A very long time.

Last year, in fact, it felt like an eternity. Mind you, despite the UK, where I spent most of my life, was nowhere near as cold in winter, it has other challenges. It's a whole lot darker, wetter and grayer.

Pumpkin broccoli soup with cheddar with spoon in bowl

Growing up in Edinburgh, I have distinct memories of going to school as the street lights went off and them coming on again on my way home. And we didn't have particularly long school days. It was all a bit depressing knowing months of that lay ahead.

Now fall is one of my favorite times of year, probably helped by the fact it's generally a lot sunnier here. It also feels like fall/autumn is enjoyed a bit more in its own right, and part of that is from a food perspective. Visiting farms to pick your own apples and pick out a pumpkin is such a part of New England tradition. It all helps inspire me to think of different ways to enjoy the food available.

picking out pumpkin at a pumpkin patch for pumpkin broccoli soup

How this soup came to be

I have built up a stock of go-to recipes for pumpkin (some more to come), but keep working on new ones as well. This is one of my recent successes. It partly came about as might get to be a theme: "I have some of this and this, I wonder if I can make something to use both of them?"

In this case it was some pumpkin which we all love in our house, but it can take a while to eat through unless you work at it. Then there's the broccoli which has been shouting "pick me or I'll go to mush/be eaten by slugs/some other fate" as I pass it each day outside our house. And so I hatched the idea of pumpkin broccoli soup. It's given a smooth and tasty edge of a good sharp cheddar which goes well with both of them.

prepared vegetables for pumpkin broccoli soup with cheddar

Easy steps to make pumpkin broccoli soup

Soften the onion in some butter.
Add the diced broccoli and pumpkin, cover and let them sweat a few minutes.
Season then add the stock and bring to a simmer.
Once the vegetables have softened, blend then stir in the cheese.
Add a little milk then serve.

For my son, I tend to add couscous to his soup to make it that bit thicker and easier to eat, as well as filling him up more. The couscous will also take on the flavor and swell even more if put in his little thermos to take with us, as we often do. No wonder he gobbles up the yummy spoonfuls.

This pumpkin broccoli soup is perfect for this time of year - warming but still with a slightly fresh edge. Tasty flavors, but not too heavy. It made a great lunch for us, and got my toddler's seal of approval. Surely a hint it might be a good one to start a blog with.

tasting pumpkin broccoli soup with cheddar

Try these other fall-flavored soups:

Roasted apple and acorn squash soup
Brussel sprout soup with crispy bacon and chestnut
Carrot, sweet potato mushroom soup
Plus get more ideas perfect for the season in the fall recipes archives. This recipe is also featured in my pumpkin recipes collection where you'll find many more creative ideas. And if you like soups with broccoli and cheese, be sure to try my broccoli and Stilton soup.

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5 from 3 votes