There are times when you want something super filling but not calorie laden, especially after the holidays or a vacation. This soup is perfect for that. Plus, I completely love the head clearing zing from the fresh ginger.
You can make this soup as thick or as thin as you want to suit your taste, just by adding more broth at the end before serving. I like it thicker when freshly made, and I like to thin out the leftovers with extra broth. Am I weird?
I've had a very occasional bowl of butternut squash soup in a restaurant, but I've never actually cooked or baked with butternut squash, until now. If you'd asked me to identify it in a line up, I would have probably failed.... until my cousin, who grows just about everything you can imagine in her hillside cantilevered personal "farm" in southern California came along (this is the same cousin who brings me Alaskan seafood, I am not worthy). Every time we get together, she presents all of us with boxes full of fresh produce. How fortunate are we! This time it was butternut squash.
Guess what? Butternut squash is delicious! You can even substitute it for the pumpkin in a pumpkin pie!
My friend Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm just started a new group, Soup Saturday Swappers, or #soupswappers. If you like soup, you're in luck. On the third Saturday of each month, we'll be posting soups based on a theme. This month's theme is "healthy." If you want more nutritious soup recipes, be sure to scroll all of the way down to check out the link up after my recipe for more nutritious soups! I know you'll love what you find.
I served this soup with slices of this wonderful mini ciabatta.
Butternut Squash and Ginger Soup
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 pounds (about 2) butternut squash, halved lengthwise, peeled, and seeded
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups thinly sliced brown onions
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 5 cups (plus more as needed) low sodium chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spread 1 tablespoon of the oil over a half sheet pan. Place the squash, cut side down onto the baking sheet and bake for about 50 minutes, until completely softened and tender.
- Cut the squash into 2 inch square pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large Dutch oven over medium low heat and add the onions, sugar, garlic, and cinnamon, and cover and cook for about 15 minutes, until onions are softened and tender. Add the squash and the broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to "low," cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove the cinnamon stick. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender. Alternatively, if you have a great immersion blender, blend the mixture in the Dutch oven.
- Return the soup to the pan, salt and pepper to taste, bring to a simmer for a few minutes, and thin it with more broth if you prefer. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Recipe inspired from Bon Appetit, October, 1998 (yes, I've been saving recipes forever)
I am exactly as weird as you... I like my soup thick on the first day, thin on the following day. Gave me a chuckle, actually. And on the second day I don't care what the soup is, I squirt a fresh load of lemon juice on top, right on my bowl
ReplyDeleteI ADORE butternut squash - hate peeling it and cutting it, in fact I am always amazed at the fact I still have ten fingers reasonably intact, because that stuff is dangerous to maneuver
great soup, Karen! Wonderful to be with you on another blog adventure
I actually peeled the squash with a peeler so it wasn't so bad, but you could roast it with the peel on and then peel it with a paring knife when it's soft.
DeleteAnd, yes, we soup weirdos need to stick together.
We need a t-shirt... Nasty Soup Weirdo
Delete;-)
Ha!!
DeleteButternut squash make such a wonderful soup. I love the addition of brown sugar and ginger! I can hardly wait to give this a try.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Kathy!
DeleteI really love the addition of ginger...this sounds like the perfect winter soup, especially if you have a cold!
ReplyDeleteIt is the perfect soup when you have a cold for sure!
DeleteButternut squash IS delicious! How lucky that you get such amazing deliveries from your cousin. I'm really liking the addition of ginger, this soup sounds lovey (especially with that beautiful bread in the photos)!
ReplyDeleteI miss baking bread with you! Thanks Heather!
DeleteButternut squash is one of my favorites! One way to peel it easily is to slice it horizontally about 1 1/2-2 inches thick, then lay the slices flat and cut the hard rind off with a knife. Beautiful soup presentation. P~
ReplyDeleteWonderful tip! thanks!
DeleteI was just at a wine tasting dinner and they served butternut squash soup and garnished it with candied ginger. It was great, I am definitely garnishing mine as such next time I make it. Love squash soup!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
DeleteThis looks lovely. I love the idea of squash soup!
ReplyDeleteThe color of the soup is so beautiful, could finish that bowl in one go.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteMy sister makes this soup or at least a variation of it, but she tends to put lots and lots and lots of ginger in hers. I'm on board with a thick soup the first day and then thinning it out the second and third day. I think I need to pick up some butternut squash the next time I see some.
ReplyDeleteGlad there are others with the same thick versus thin "thing!"
DeleteLooks and sounds lovely. I make butternut squash every Thanksgiving. It is one of my fave parts of the meal and is perfect to accompany leftover turkey sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jade! This is my first try at it, and won't be my last.
Delete