Description
Roasted butternut squash soup blends autumn’s comforting flavors with creamy richness. Warm spices and velvety texture invite you to savor each spoonful of this nourishing seasonal classic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (3 lbs / 1.36 kg) butternut squash, medium, peeled, seeded, and cubed
- 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup coconut milk or heavy cream
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 2 tbsps butter (optional)
- Roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- Drizzle of coconut milk or cream
- Fresh thyme or parsley
- Croutons
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 400F (200C) and arrange a spacious baking sheet for roasting butternut squash cubes coated with olive oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, and smoked paprika.
- Roasting: Spread squash on the baking sheet, ensuring caramelization and golden-brown edges for 25-30 minutes, developing rich, intense flavor profiles.
- Aromatics: In a substantial cooking pot, sauté diced onions and minced garlic over medium heat until translucent and fragrant, creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Consolidation: Transfer roasted squash into the pot, pouring vegetable broth over the mixture and allowing ingredients to meld and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Blending: Use an immersion blender to transform the mixture into a luxuriously smooth, silky consistency, ensuring no textural irregularities remain.
- Finishing: Incorporate coconut milk, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and butter, adjusting seasoning and broth consistency to achieve perfect balance.
- Serving: Elegantly ladle the soup into bowls, garnishing with crunchy pumpkin seeds, a delicate cream swirl, and freshly chopped herbs for a visually stunning and flavorful presentation.
Notes
- Optimize Roasting Process: Spread squash cubes evenly to ensure uniform caramelization, preventing soggy or unevenly cooked pieces.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast whole spices briefly before grinding to release more intense, complex aromatic compounds and elevate overall soup complexity.
- Adjust Consistency Smartly: Control soup thickness by gradually adding broth, allowing precise texture control for personal preference or dietary needs.
- Dietary Modification Options: Substitute dairy butter with plant-based alternatives like vegan butter or olive oil for lactose-intolerant or vegan diets, maintaining rich flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg