Butternut Squash Soup Recipe (2024)

What is it about soup that makes you feel so good? Maybe it is all the bone broth that is in there... Lots of nutrients and goodies, particularly if you make your stock from scratch. There is just something about a good soup, especially when it starts to get cold outside, that flips some kind of "comfy" switch inside. Like sitting down with a good friend. Mmm...Time for the butternut squash soup recipe.

Butternut squash is a winter squash, so it is best from November through into the spring. It's a very good source of vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, which are all important when you're following the Paleo, Primal, Vegetarian or Vegan lifestyles. Not only is it good for you, but it can be prepared in so many different ways. Butternut squash can be roasted, grilled or steamed. It is great for soups (yeah!), muffins or eaten right out of the skin. All around, it's a delicious fruit... yes, it's a fruit! You can even roast the seeds which taste delicious (check out how tobutter roast various pumpkin seeds).

When I am breaking down a butternut squash, two things happen. The first is the ½ inch rule. I take off ½ inch from the top and the bottom of the squash. This gives me flat surfaces to work with which are much safer. The next step is to separate the cylindrical section from the bulb section by cutting in half right above the bulb. Separating the squash like this makes it easier to peel (you can use a vegetable peeler or slice with a 7-10" chef's knife). Next, cut the bulb in half from top to bottom and scoop out all the stuff inside. Now you're ready to roast away!

QUICK COOKING TIP:Roasting isn't a process that can be rushed. It happens at the rate that it is going to happen. Firing up the oven to 500 degrees isn't going to roast the squash quicker... it is going to most likely burn the butternut on the outside and the inside will still be raw. You can decrease the time for roasting if you have an oven with a convect feature. Or, you can microwave the butternut squash to reduce the cooking time, but it won't have that nice caramelization that a full roast would give it.

Let's make this butternut squash soup recipe...

Final Thoughts on the Butternut Squash Soup Recipe:

There are two steps that make this recipe really shine: roasting the squash and caramelizing the onions. When your squash is nicely roasted and fork tender, it takes on a sweet, nutty flavor. The caramelized onions bring out a sweet earthy flavor and the two just love one another.

If you don't have an immersion blender, go ahead and use a regular blender. PLEASE BE CAREFUL: if you use a regular blender, make sure that the clear center cap is removed from the lid and you put a kitchen towel or a folded paper towel over the spot where the center cap was. When you start to blend hot food, the steam will try to escape and without enough ventilation inside the blender you'll have super hot, partially blended food all over the kitchen. Not fun!

I've been getting a number of emails over the last 2 weeks about my use of balsamic vinegar in so many recipes. It's not that I love balsamic vinegar... believe me. It's that balsamic adds just a touch of acid to the dish that creates that full bodied mouthfeel. If you made this butternut squash recipe, try it first without the balsamic. Then add in ½ to ¾ of a teaspoon of balsamic, mix and taste again. You notice a perceptible difference immediately!

Think about making this butternut squash soup recipe for the holidays, or just any old cold winter day. Hopefully you'll get the feeling of sitting down with an old friend too. Let me know of any other butternut squash soup recipes you love in the comments- thanks!