Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Wipe down your pumpkin with a damp towel. First cut off the top where the steam is, and then proceed to cut each side off of the pumpkin (think 4 sides). Finally cut the bottom off. Remember the center of the pumpkin is hollow, filled with pulp and seeds, so you are cutting around that. (See notes)
Throw away the pulp and seeds (or rinse off the seeds and save them for roasting or your animal friends). Cut your pumpkin into 1 ½ - 2 inch long slices. Once slices are all cut, use a small spoon and scrape off any pulp and seeds left sticking to each slice.
Place slices onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet (easy cleanup). Brush lightly with grapeseed, avocado or olive oil and then season well with salt and pepper. and roast for 40-50 minutes or until a fork slides easily into the the slices.
Turn oven off and allow pumpkin to sit in the oven for another 10 minutes, remove and cool a bit until you can handle the slices. Once you can handle them, slide a paring knife or other small knife between the flesh of the pumpkin and its skin to remove the skin. Throw skin away and reserve pumpkin for the soup.
While the pumpkin cools, heat your soup pot over medium high heat and add in the oil, onion, garlic, ginger, red chili pepper and carrots and saute for 4 minutes. Add in the pumpkin, thyme, bay leaf, and turmeric. Mix, season with salt and pepper and saute for a few minutes.
Add in vegetable stock cover, bring to a boil and then lower heat and allow soup to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and either use an immersion blender or carefully puree in a blender (in batches if necessary). Placing a dish towel over the lid of the blender and pressing down as you pulse. Once soup is smooth, return it back to your rinsed-out soup pot, taste and adjust seasoning or spicy level to your liking.
Garnish with pepitas, croutons, thyme sprigs, a drizzle of cream or a drizzle of honey (yum!!) and enjoy! I actually like to mix honey with red pepper (cayenne) and drizzle that on for an extra sweet and spicy kick.