Butternut Harvest Soup

🕒 Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook: 30 min
🍽 Serves: 6
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This Butternut Harvest Soup is like a cozy sweater in a bowl, perfect for when the air gets crisp and the leaves start falling. It’s creamy, lightly spiced, and will warm you right up from the inside out.

Ingredients for Butternut Harvest Soup

Butternut squash is the star, providing a natural sweetness and velvety texture when puréed. It's what gives this soup its distinctive autumnal flavor.

Onion and garlic create a savory base, adding depth and richness to every spoonful.

Chicken or vegetable broth serves as the soup's backbone, infusing every bite with flavor and ensuring the squash cooks evenly.

Heavy cream adds a silky smoothness, transforming the soup into something really indulgent.

Olive oil and butter are used to sauté the vegetables, lending a richer flavor to the base.

Ground nutmeg adds a hint of warm spice that complements the sweetness of the squash.

Tips & Tricks

  • If you prefer a thicker soup, reduce the amount of broth slightly.
  • For a vegan version, replace the cream with coconut milk and use vegetable broth.
  • Freeze leftovers in individual portions for a quick meal on a busy day.

Serving Suggestions

This soup pairs beautifully with a slice of crusty bread or a grilled cheese sandwich. For a heartier meal, consider topping it with crispy bacon bits or roasted pumpkin seeds for added crunch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen butternut squash?
Absolutely! Just extend the cooking time slightly to ensure the squash is fully tender before blending.
What can I use instead of heavy cream?
Half-and-half or coconut milk are great alternatives if you want to lighten it up or make it dairy-free.

Butternut Harvest Soup Recipe Walkthrough

Start by heating the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Once the butter has melted and started to bubble, add the chopped onion. Cook until the onion becomes translucent, about five minutes. You’ll want to stir occasionally to prevent any sticking.

Next, toss in the garlic and let it cook for just a minute. You'll know it's ready when the kitchen fills with that inviting aroma.

Now, stir in the diced butternut squash, ensuring every piece is coated with the onion and garlic mixture. This step ensures the squash absorbs all those wonderful flavors.

Pour in the broth and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer. You’re looking for the squash to become tender, which typically takes about 20 minutes.

Once the squash is tender, grab your immersion blender and purée the soup until smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, carefully transfer the soup to a regular blender in batches.

Stir in the heavy cream and nutmeg, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer for another five minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully before serving.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights.
  • Rich, creamy texture without being heavy.
  • Perfect way to use up fall's bounty of butternut squash.
  • Customizable with your choice of broth, accommodating vegetarians and meat-lovers alike.

Ingredients

2 lbs butternut squash, peeled and diced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp butter

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
4. Add the diced butternut squash and stir to coat with the onion and garlic.
5. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until squash is tender, about 20 minutes.
7. Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth.
8. Stir in heavy cream and nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
9. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes before serving.

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