From my kitchen to your plate.
Saint Lucia – A Caribbean Island of Culinary InfluencesSaint Lucia is a beautiful island nation in the eastern Caribbean, known for its volcanic landscapes, tropical climate and rich cultural heritage. Its cuisine reflects African, Indigenous Caribbean, European and South Asian influences, with fresh local produce, aromatic spices, root vegetables and chilies playing important roles. Pumpkin and other varieties of squash are familiar ingredients in Caribbean home cooking, appearing in soups, stews and hearty vegetable dishes. The island's culinary traditions combine comforting ingredients with bold, fragrant flavors.
Soupe de Citrouille – A Caribbean-Inspired Pumpkin SoupSoupe de Citrouille translates from French as pumpkin soup, although there is no single definitive Saint Lucian recipe under this name. My Via Veggie Vegan interpretation combines tender pumpkin with garlic, ginger, Caribbean-style curry spices, coconut milk and freshly squeezed orange juice. Instead of serving the soup in ordinary bowls, I hollowed out two small green Hokkaido pumpkins, roasted them with chili oil and transformed them into edible serving bowls. A swirl of vegan sour cream and pumpkin seed oil completes this warming, aromatic and entirely plant-based Caribbean-inspired creation.
From my kitchen to your plate.
Via Veggie Vegan Vunderland – A Culinary Destination Beyond Borders
Not every destination on my culinary journey needs a passport. Via Veggie Vegan Vunderland is my very own little wonderland, where creativity, imagination and personal memories are just as important as the ingredients on the plate. It exists alongside the 195 countries of Via Veggie Vegan as a special destination for recipes that cannot be assigned to one particular country. Here, familiar dishes become personal creations, seasonal ingredients inspire playful food art, and the stories behind a recipe are sometimes even more meaningful than the recipe itself. Because some culinary journeys take us around the world, while others lead us straight back to the people and animals we love.
What Makes Smurfy’s Magic Pumpkin Orange Soup Special?
Smurfy’s Magic Pumpkin Orange Soup combines roasted Hokkaido pumpkin with fragrant Madras curry, fresh ginger, garlic and the bright citrus aroma of orange. A touch of oat cream gives the soup its beautifully velvety consistency, while vegan sour cream and nutty pumpkin seed oil add a delicious finishing touch. Homemade pumpkin fritters shaped into little cats transform the garnish into a loving tribute to Smurfy, my beloved feline companion who gave this recipe its name. Inspired by a memorable visit to Leipzig, years of experimenting in my kitchen and an extraordinary friendship during a difficult time, this completely plant-based soup is much more than autumn comfort food. It's a bowl full of love, gratitude and precious memories.
From my kitchen to your plate.
USA – A Country of Comfort Food and Halloween TraditionsThe United States has a wonderfully diverse food culture shaped by regional traditions and generations of immigration. Mac and Cheese is one of its most beloved comfort food classics, while Halloween has become a spectacular celebration of costumes, decorated houses, carved pumpkins and spooky creativity. Although many Halloween customs have European roots, the United States helped shape the pumpkin-filled celebration we recognize today.
What Is Mac and Cheese?Mac and Cheese is a classic American dish made with macaroni and a creamy cheese sauce, often prepared with a butter-and-flour roux and finished in the oven. My vegan version uses plant-based cheddar, vegan Parmesan, nutritional yeast and a creamy béchamel-style sauce. Roasted Hokkaido pumpkin adds extra flavor, while the hollowed-out pumpkin becomes an edible Jack-o'-Lantern serving bowl with a crispy panko topping.
From my kitchen to your plate.
Bolivia – Andean Traditions and the Love of PumpkinBolivia is a landlocked country in South America, known for its spectacular Andean landscapes, rich Indigenous heritage and diverse regional food traditions. Potatoes, corn, legumes and squash have played an important role in local cooking for generations. In southern Bolivia, particularly around Tarija, hearty vegetable preparations reflect the region's culinary traditions. Pumpkin, known as zapallo in Spanish, is a popular ingredient in comforting dishes that combine seasonal vegetables, aromatic spices and locally available produce.
What Is Carbonada de Zapallo?Carbonada de Zapallo is a pumpkin-based stew associated with Bolivian and broader South American culinary traditions. Related dishes, including Locro de Zapallo, combine pumpkin with ingredients such as potatoes, corn, peas and other vegetables, although recipes vary considerably between regions and households. My Via Veggie Vegan interpretation transforms this hearty vegetable stew into a colourful plant-based main course served inside two roasted Hokkaido pumpkins. Brushed with chili oil and filled with potatoes, corn, peas, aromatic vegetables, cumin, oregano and melted vegan cheese, the pumpkins become edible serving bowls. Their naturally sweet flesh and tender skin complement the savoury, spicy filling, creating a delicious zero-waste dish inspired by Bolivia.
From my kitchen to your plate.
A Taste of CambodiaSomlor Kari, also spelled Samlor Kari, refers to a Cambodian curry preparation. Cambodian curries combine fragrant aromatic pastes with ingredients such as coconut milk, vegetables and, in many traditional versions, meat.
Halloween Meets Cambodian-Inspired CookingThe smiling jack-o'-lantern presentation is my own creative addition rather than a traditional Cambodian serving style. The roasted Hokkaido becomes both an edible bowl and an ingredient, making this dish a playful celebration of aromatic cooking and zero-waste creativity.
From my kitchen to your plate.
Cambodia – The Aromatic World of Khmer CuisineCambodia's culinary heritage is shaped by regional traditions, fresh ingredients and influences from neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. Khmer cuisine is known for its fragrant combinations of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, garlic and fresh herbs. Cambodian curries often emphasise aromatic flavours and a balance of savoury, sweet and sour notes rather than intense chilli heat.
What Is Khmer Pumpkin Curry?Khmer Pumpkin Curry is a Cambodian-inspired dish combining tender pumpkin with fragrant aromatics and creamy coconut milk. My Via Veggie Vegan interpretation uses Hokkaido squash, fresh lemongrass, galangal, ginger, turmeric, garlic, vegan fish sauce and lime. The naturally sweet pumpkin complements the golden coconut sauce beautifully. This is a personal plant-based interpretation of Cambodian curry traditions rather than a reproduction of one specific traditional recipe.
