My Favorite Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
"For comfort in a bowl, ladle up some Butternut Squash Soup." ~ Food Network
Butternut squash is a fall favorite and shines brightest when used as a base for a rich, warming soup. It's a type of fall-harvest squash with a sweet, nutty taste. The color signals an abundance of powerhouse nutrients and it's reported to have anti-inflammatory benefits as well.
Butternut Squash Soup is basically “fall in a bowl”. Smooth and creamy - it’s sure to warm you up from the inside on a brisk autumn day. Its great for lunch, dinner, or serve as a starter for your Thanksgiving feast.
The original of this recipe (below) was given to me by a client many years ago and has become a family favorite for our Thanksgiving dinner each year. The rest of the time I leave out the dairy and use a little pure maple syrup for the sweetener. The ingredients cook up quickly into a thick, velvety soup that is both sweet and savory with a bit of a kick from the Serrano peppers. Whatever way it's prepared, it is always delicious!
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
4 small Serrano peppers, seeded & chopped
5 cups chicken broth or "no-chicken" broth
1 1/2 lbs. butternut squash (4 cups)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 bay leaves
1 tsp thyme
1 Tbsp brown sugar or maple syrup (& more to taste)
1/2 cup sour cream
Crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (optional)
Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots. Cook until soft but not brown, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and chilies and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in stock, cubed squash, parsley, bay leaves, thyme, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to med-low and simmer until the vegetables are very soft, 20-25 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Puree the soup in a blender until very smooth. (Add a little water if the soup is too thick.) Return the soup to the pot and stir in the sour cream. Simmer for 3 minutes. Adjust seasonings, adding sweetener, salt and pepper to taste. Serve and garnish with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. Enjoy!