Butternut Squash Soup

17 January 2022, 19:55

Aspen Hill Adventures

I have to say a good winter squash soup is really satisfying on a cold day. Pairs well with any meat.

Butternuts are easy to peel with a standard vegetable peeler. Gut them of seeds and dice up when peeled and gutted. Put in a stock pot with a couple of cups of chicken stock. I pulverized some celery sticks and a large sweet onion. Add what spices and seasonings you like. Cook it down until squash cubes are soft. Take off the heat and cool for awhile and then take an immersion blender and turn it to mush. Heat it back up. If done right this is very thick and not a runny soup. Sticks to your ribs.

This batch is probably a once off as I never measure anything. I can tell you I put half a stick of butter, black pepper, salt, cumin, four bay leaves, a pinch of dried thyme, chili powder, dill weed, turmeric, a pinch or two of Muchi curry and some liquid hickory smoke. You can add what spices you enjoy and not go wrong.

Garnish is a dab of sour cream, minced garlic and dried parsley.

17 January 2022, 21:28

Bill/Oregon

Ann -- totally agree on how wonderful butternut squash soup tastes on a cold winter's day.
Here's the recipe I use:

1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 large sweet onions, diced
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
4 medium butternut squashes peeled, halved, seeds removed and diced into 1-inch cubes
3 qts chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste

In large pot, melt butter and sautee onions and apples until tender. Stir in spices, cook for a minute. Add squash and chicken stock, bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered until squash is tender -- 20-30 minutes. Puree and serve.
This goes just great with a grilled Tillamook cheese sammich on home made bread.

18 January 2022, 01:16

Aspen Hill Adventures

Bill, I will try your recipe next time. I have seen some on the net which used apples and made a sweeter soup base. I didn't have any apples on hand and was happy with a more savory soup.

18 January 2022, 03:14

gsganzer

Here's a recipe I do, it's from The Chew

Curried Butternut Squash Soup
2 TBL olive oil
4 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 small yellow onion, diced
Pinch salt, plus more to taste
1, 2" piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated
2 tsp curry powder
1, 15oz can of coconut milk
1 cup water
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Garnish, if wanted:
Cilantro leaves
Lime wedges
Plain greek yogurt
Toasted butternut squash seeds

Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven to medium/high heat. Saute the onion, squash, and pinch of salt until soft.

Add the curry and ginger and cook until very fragrant (about 1 minute).

Turn down heat and add coconut milk and water, simmer about 15 minutes (do nut burn coconut milk).

Use a blender to puree the soup until completely smooth. Check seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste.

Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with cilantro, lime wedges, greek yogurt, toasted squash seeds.

18 January 2022, 03:27

Use Enough Gun

Thank you everyone!

18 January 2022, 07:43

Aspen Hill Adventures

Sweet or savory I don't think you could ruin this soup.

19 January 2022, 06:09

Bobster

That looks good! I'm thinking that as a first course followed by med rare grilled marinated venison tenderloin, with asparagus grilled and slathered in olive and sesame oils. Would work well with roasted lamb too.

quote:
Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I have to say a good winter squash soup is really satisfying on a cold day. Pairs well with any meat.

Butternuts are easy to peel with a standard vegetable peeler. Gut them of seeds and dice up when peeled and gutted. Put in a stock pot with a couple of cups of chicken stock. I pulverized some celery sticks and a large sweet onion. Add what spices and seasonings you like. Cook it down until squash cubes are soft. Take off the heat and cool for awhile and then take an immersion blender and turn it to mush. Heat it back up. If done right this is very thick and not a runny soup. Sticks to your ribs.

This batch is probably a once off as I never measure anything. I can tell you I put half a stick of butter, black pepper, salt, cumin, four bay leaves, a pinch of dried thyme, chili powder, dill weed, turmeric, a pinch or two of Muchi curry and some liquid hickory smoke. You can add what spices you enjoy and not go wrong.

Garnish is a dab of sour cream, minced garlic and dried parsley.

21 January 2022, 17:53

gsganzer

I just made a double batch of the Curried Butternut Squash recipe posted above and froze it into multiple portions to bring down to the deerlease for hunting hogs this weekend. What a great cold weather soup and it's incredibly simple to make.

I'll have to try some of the other recipes posted.

22 January 2022, 06:44

boom stick

How about a chai seasoned version?
I want a bacon, jalapeño and cream cheese garnished version

22 January 2022, 18:35

Aspen Hill Adventures

I bet that would be good as well.

01 February 2022, 06:44

matt salm

We process 20+ butternut squash every fall. We quarter them, then roast in the oven til tender. After they cool off, they skin is peeled off, mix in a blender and freeze in quart bags. Works great in soups, I even mix it in waffle batter with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and vanilla for holiday(ish) breakfast. Good just warmed up in a pan for a side also.