On cold fall days, a warm pumpkin soup really hits the spot. Here's a recipe for how to make the perfect vegetarian pumpkin soup, and even some vegan options as well.

Pumpkin soup is incredibly quick and easy to make, and won't be a problem if you're in any kind of a pinch.

If you're short on money, it's affordable to make. If you need warming up, it's the perfect blanket for your soul. If you're short on time, it's quick to whip up. And if you're lacking vegan or vegetarian options, it can't be beat.

Up your fall food game with this perfect vegetarian pumpkin soup recipe, take a look at the best pumpkins for the dish, and you're good to go for an autumn treat that can't be beat.

Whether you're looking to make your pumpkin soup purely from the flesh of the beast, or if you want to chuck in the skin as well, your choice of pumpkin is important.

Here are the best types of pumpkins to use:

• Hokkaido
• Bishop's Cap
• Blue Ballet
• Delicia
• Butternut (Squash)
• Nutmeg

Of course, you're going to want to make sure that your pumpkin of choice isn't moldy or spoiled, has a well-rounded and sweet flavor profile, and is relatively fresh. Check out some more pumpkin tips here.

A great pumpkin soup is the absolute perfect thing for a cold fall evening, and incredibly simple and easy to put together. You won't need many pieces of equipment, either.

Here's what you'll need to make pumpkin soup:

• A large, sharp knife
• A garlic press
• A big pot
• A hand or stick blender

You don't need too much to make a delicious pumpkin soup. Keep it simple and easy, and avoid overly complicating things. In the end, it's pumpkin soup, so you want the pumpkin to sing.

Here are your ideal pumpkin soup ingredients:

• 1 entire pumpkin of your choice
• 10 oz vegetable stock
• 2 oz heavy cream (alternatively, use sour cream or a vegan option)
• Two large onions
• 4 tsp fresh ginger
• 3 tsp fresh garlic
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Cracked black pepper

It doesn't take very long to make pumpkin soup, and if you follow these easy steps, you'll have a great lunch or dinner in less than an hour – with most likely some extra left over!

Step 1: Start by getting all of your vegetables ready. Chop your pumpkin into chunks, dice your onions nice and fine, crush both your ginger and garlic.

Step 2: Put the onion into a deep pot and sauté with olive oil on a low heat. Once the onions are lightly translucent, add the garlic and ginger and continue to sauté for another 3-4 minutes.

Step 3: Once your onion, ginger, and garlic have been sautéd, add the chopped up pumpkin cubes into the pot with a healthy dose of olive oil, mix thoroughly, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook together whilst heating up the vegetable stock.

Step 4: Add the vegetable stock to the mix and then top up with hot water until the entire mixture is fully covered. Bring it all to boil and simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Step 5: Once the pumpkin is soft and falling apart, purée the mixture until silky smooth. Cover and allow to simmer for a bit more, until the mixture has reduced and thickened up.

Step 6: Once thick, taste and add further seasoning if necessary. Now mix in the cream and boil off for another 2-3 minutes so that the soup is creamy, rich, and delicious.

Step 7: Serve your pumpkin soup with some crunchy garlic bread, some basil, pumpkin bread, or another garnish of choice. Enjoy!

It doesn't take much longer than 45 minutes to make a great pumpkin soup, and it is the perfect thing for a chilly fall evening. Make sure to season well, though, and don't use too much stock. In the case of pumpkin soup, too much salt can ruin your creation.

You can make a delicious vegan pumpkin soup simply by replacing the cream with coconut milk.

Not only will this remove all possible animal products from the recipe, but it will also add a sweet coconut flavor to your soup whilst maintaining the creamy texture that comes from using dairy products.

Feel free to also chuck in some maple syrup as well. This adds an unbelievably rich and gorgeous flavor to the mix, even if it does admittedly make the recipe a little unhealthy.

If you want to get creative with pumpkin soup, you can also try adding some carrots or sweet potato to make up for the lack of cream.

Pumpkin soup is one of the easiest, quickest, and most satisfying fall dinners.

Get creative and change things up – as with most recipes, there is no need to follow this one to a tee. Try a few different spices (maybe add some cinnamon or nutmeg), add some interesting oils, and get those culinary juices flowing!

Pair your tasty pumpkin soup with some crunchy, hot bread, or even boil a hot dog or bacon bits in the soup to add a smokey element of protein. With this pumpkin soup recipe, you'll have a delicious dish, whether you're a clever carnivore or a happy herbivore.