Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (Printable)

A rich, creamy soup featuring caramelized roasted butternut squash blended with warming spices for ultimate comfort.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cubed
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, peeled
04 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups vegetable broth
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Seasonings

07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

→ Garnish

11 - 1/4 cup heavy cream or coconut cream (optional)
12 - Toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)
13 - Fresh thyme (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Place the cubed butternut squash, chopped onion, garlic cloves, and carrot on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat evenly.
03 - Roast in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring halfway through, until squash is tender and caramelized.
04 - Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large pot. Add vegetable broth, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper if using.
05 - Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
06 - Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until completely smooth. Alternatively, work in batches with a countertop blender.
07 - Adjust seasoning to taste. If desired, stir in heavy cream or coconut cream for extra richness.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh thyme.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasting process creates these incredible caramelized edges on the vegetables that give the soup a depth you simply cant achieve any other way.
  • You can make this on Sunday and enjoy progressively deeper flavors throughout the week as the spices meld together in the refrigerator.
02 -
  • Butternut squash can vary dramatically in sweetness, so always taste before final seasoning, sometimes you need extra salt to balance an unusually sweet squash.
  • Letting the soup rest for 10 minutes after blending allows the flavors to settle and the texture to become even silkier.
03 -
  • When reheating, add a fresh grating of nutmeg at the very end to revive the aromatic qualities that diminish with storage.
  • For an unexpected twist that impressed even my chef friend, try garnishing with a few pomegranate seeds which provide tiny bursts of brightness against the creamy background.
Go Back