Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

This easy butternut squash soup is a great addition to a cold winter evening!  Add a nice piece of warm, crusty bread and a salad for the perfect winter meal.

Mmmmm…..soup!  In the winter, a nice warm bowl of soup is always a welcome addition to a cold evening.  For lunch or dinner a bowl of soup, a nice warm piece of bread and a salad make a quick and easy meal.  Butternut squash is a really great ingredient for fall and winter dishes, and I’ve grown to like it quite a bit.   I’ve been experimenting with it more often, and have come up with a couple of recipes that I’m really excited about including this Butternut Squash Tart.

This is a fairly traditional butternut squash soup and I kept the ingredients fairly simple so you get a nice, rich squash flavor.  Personally, I prefer butternut squash soup to be a little thicker, so I added some milk to give this version a nice creamy texture.  You can always leave that out if you want a thinner soup or need to avoid dairy.

For the most part, I prefer my soups to be more pureed, so you’ll notice that I often use a blender or immersion blender to get a smooth texture.  If you like soup a little more chunky, you can always blend a little less!  One super important kitchen tip, if you are using a regular blender to puree soup (or anything that’s hot) be sure to take the centerpiece out of the top before you puree the soup.  This lets the steam vent while you are pureeing.  Just be sure to cover the opening with a paper towel to keep the soup from splattering and making a huge mess in your kitchen!  Yes, I have had this happen to me before – not fun!

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it a day or two before and reheat it in a pot on the stove.  If you are planning to make this ahead of time I recommend stopping after you puree the entire batch.  Store the soup in the refrigerator for a day or two and then you can pick up at step #5 and add the milk and remaining ingredients while you are reheating it.

What’s the best way to toast nuts?

Toasted nuts are one of my favorite toppings for soups and salads.  Nuts are really easy to toast; no need to turn on the oven!  Just heat a small, preferably non-stick pan over medium-low heat and throw in a handful or two of nuts – I typically do at least two handfuls, as I find toasted nuts to be a little addictive!  Shake the pan occasionally to ensure the nuts get evenly toasted.

This vegetarian soup is an easy version of a classic winter soup.  Enjoy!!

Things you May Want for This Recipe

Good Blender –  While a Vitamix is certainly a good choice they are also pretty pricey so if you are not juicing or making smoothies every day something like this Cuisinart blender is a great choice for most home cooks.  It gets the job done and will last for a long time.  I had my last one for over 10 years!

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Kathryn | Urban Foodie Kitchen
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 65 minutes
• Total Time: 105 minutes
• Yield: 5 cups
• Category: Chilis + Soups
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Continental

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Description

This creamy butternut squash soup is the perfect warm-up on a cold winter day!

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Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash (approximately 3.25 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups Pacific chicken broth
• 1/2 cup 2-percent milk
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
• 1/3 cup creme frâiche

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut the top off of the squash and slice in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds and pulp. Place skin side down on jelly roll pan.
3. Mix maple syrup and oil in a small bowl; brush squash with the mixture, pouring any extra into the center of the squash.  Sprinkle with pepper. Roast for 1 hour or until tender. Remove from oven and let cool for 15-20 minutes.
4. Scoop one squash half into a blender and add 1 cup of chicken broth, process until smooth. Pour into a large saucepan and repeat with other squash half and remaining chicken broth.
5. Stir in the milk and season with salt & pepper. Heat over medium-low until warm.
6. Spoon into bowls and top with 1 tbsp creme frâiche and sprinkle with roasted pumpkin seeds.

Keywords: winter soup, butternut squash recipes