Jamaican Chicken Pumpkin Soup is a flavorful, comforting soup that not only will warm you up during these winter season or on a Saturday, but will sure to full your stomach.

It is similar to my Jamaican Pumpkin Soup without pureeing all of the vegetables.

For this recipe, I did puree some of the pumpkin to add that rich color to the soup.

This is a hearty chicken soup recipe that is filling and sure will be satisfying after each bowl.

Whether you choose to have it for lunch or dinner it will warm up your heart and your kitchen.

Saturday Soup

Growing up in Jamaica, Soup was a tradition on a Saturday afternoon as Rice & Peas is for dinner on a Sunday.

Saturday Soup for us Jamaicans is a whole meal which includes corn, yellow yam, potatoes, dumplings and vegetables.

As I have written in my Pumpkin Soup (Jamaican Style), when I came here to live in America, soups was given especially when you were sick (that’s what I was told).

I was kind of taken back a little. But to my understanding soup for Americans is mostly liquid, unlike Jamaican soup that has meat, ground provisions and vegetables in it.

Jamaican Types of Soup

Jamaicans have different types of soup that we love to enjoy not only on a Saturday but any day of the week.

I believe it’s because it a whole meal

These includes: Chicken Pumpkin Soup, Red Peas Soup, Ital (Vegetable) Soup and Fish Tea/Fish Soup.

My favorite is Red Peas Soup because I love peas (beans) a lot.

But you can still give me a bowl of Jamaican Chicken and Pumpkin Soup too.

Which part of the chicken is best to make Jamaican Chicken Pumpkin Soup

As a Jamaican, I love to use the chicken parts that has bone in them.

Yep some hot chicken back soup is the way to go.

You can use some drumsticks, thighs, chicken breast and my favorite: the chicken back.

However, the choice is yours.

Whatever part you want to use it’s your preference.

For this recipe, I used about three Split Chicken Breast Ribs & Back pieces.

Jamaican Soup Mixes

Jamaican Soup Mixes adds flavor and some body to any type of soup you are cooking.

The Grace brand is the most popular brand.

Another brand that can be used is the Maggi Soup It Up.

Soup mixes can also be used to make a flavorful broth, if you aren’t in the mood to add anything else to your pot.

These soup mixes are not just for soups but are also added to other chicken dishes, rice dishes and steamed fish.

For this recipe, I used the Grace Pumpkin Flavored Soup Mix and Cock Flavored Soup Mix as shown below.

How do you make Jamaican Chicken Pumpkin Soup from scratch

Firstly, clean chicken by washing it in a vinegar water mixture. Mix the all purpose and salt with the water to form a dough. Set aside for later.

Add the cleaned chicken, yellow yam, pumpkin, turnip, corn, garlic, pimento berries, bay leaves and water. Boil for about 10 minutes or so.

Secondly, remove some of the pumpkin and turnip with some of the hot liquid and puree in a blender. Be careful not to burn yourself. Add the pureed mixture back to the pot and stir.

Thirdly, add the dumplings and spinners and stir. Then add the celery, carrots, potatoes, cho cho (chayote) and scotch bonnet pepper. Continue to stir to prevent the dumplings and spinners from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Fourthly, allow to cook for about 20 minutes and then add the scallion (green onion), thyme and the 2 soup mixes and continue to stir.

Finally, let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Taste and add salt if needed. Remove the thyme, bay leaves, scallion (green onion) and scotch bonnet pepper before serving. Serve warm and enjoy.

Jamaican Chicken Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Ingredients for Jamaican Chicken Pumpkin Soup

• 1 1/2lb Chicken (I used Tyson Split Chicken breast, ribs and back)
• 1lb Yellow Yam, diced
• 2lb Pumpkin (Calabaza), diced
• 1 large Turnip, diced
• 2 stalks Corn (each broken into 4 pieces)
• 3 clove Garlic, minced
• 12 Pimento Berries, washed
• 3 Bay Leaves, washed
• 12 cups Water
• 2 large Carrots, diced
• 1 Scotch Bonnet Pepper
• 2 stalk Celery, diced
• 1 large Cho Cho (Chayote)
• 4 small Potatoes (diced if using big potatoes)
• 2 stalk Scallion (Green Onion), beaten or sliced
• 1 packet Jamaican Pumpkin Soup Mix
• 1 packet Jamaican Cock Soup Mix
• 5 sprigs Thyme, washed
• Salt to taste (optional)

Ingredients for Dumpling and Spinners

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• Approximately 2/3 cup Water

Instructions

To make Jamaican Chicken Pumpkin Soup

1. Cut each pieces of Chicken in to 4 pieces. Wash chicken pieces with vinegar and water or lemon juice and water. Rinse off with water 3 times and drain off all water.
2. Mix the all purpose flour and salt together with the water to form a dough to make the dumplings. Set aside for later.
3. In a large pot, add the chicken pieces, yellow yam, pumpkin, turnip, garlic, pimento berries, bay leaves, corn and 12 cups water.
4. Allow to boil on medium high heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the pumpkin and turnip are cooked.
5. Remove majority of the pumpkin and turnip (if you can) with enough hot liquid to cover the vegetables and puree. Be careful while blending. I let it cool down in a ice bath as a precaution.
6. Add the pureed mixture back to the pot and bring it back to a boil.
7. Form the dumplings and the spinners in the meantime.
8. Add the dumplings and spinners to the pot along with the carrots, celery, cho cho, potatoes and scotch bonnet pepper. Mix together so the dumplings and spinners don’t stick at the bottom. Be careful not to burst the scotch bonnet pepper while stirring the pot.
9. Let it cook for about 20 minutes and then add the scallion, thyme and 2 packets of soup mix.
10. Allow to simmer on medium low heat for the next 10 to 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the soup mix from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Taste and add salt if needed.
11. Remove the scotch bonnet pepper, bay leaves, scallion and thyme before serving.
12. Serve warm and enjoy.

To make Dumplings and Spinners

1. In a small bowl, add the all purpose and salt and mix together.
2. Pour the water, little by little and with your hands mix together to form a dough. You may not need all of the water.
3. Leave dough in the bowl until you are ready to use.
4. Divide the dough into small pieces and roll in between the palm of your hands to form the dumplings and spinners.

Notes:

1. Try not to burst the scotch bonnet pepper while stirring the pot or else it will turn into a pepper pot soup and no one will want to eat it.
2. Discard the thyme, scallion (green onion), bay leaves and scotch bonnet pepper before serving.

Please let me know what you think about this Jamaican Chicken Pumpkin Soup in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again.

Blessings & Love always, as you carry on, on your YouNique Journey!