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Monday, October 6, 2014

My Recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

October has arrived and autumn is upon us! You know what that means, right?   It's soup season! The cooler temperatures have me craving homemade soup, so a few days ago I made my favorite - butternut squash soup!  This time, however, I did something different.  I roasted the squash in the oven beforehand, instead of cubing it and boiling it into the soup like I've done in the past.  Roasting the squash really brings out the flavor.  I will definitely be preparing it this way from now on.

I love roasted butternut squash and thus, was unable to stop myself from sneaking a few bites before scooping the flesh into the soup!  I took inspiration from a multitude of recipes and adapted this one to my liking.  The soup turned out delicious; my husband hasn't stopped talking about it since!   I was asked to share the recipe, so here it is:

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup 



Makes 6-8 hearty servings . You can half the recipe to make less, of course!


Ingredients

2 medium butternut squash 
1/4 cup butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
up to 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper (more or less depending how spicy you like it)
salt to taste 
1 pkg. cream cheese (8 oz)

Directions

  • Half squash lengthwise; remove seeds and stringy pulp.  Roast cut-side down on a foil-wrapped baking pan at 400F for approx. 45 minutes, or until fully cooked and soft.  Allow to cool. Scoop the flesh out and reserve. The two squash should render six cups of flesh, more or less.
  • In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.  Add onion and garlic.  Sautee until onion is translucent. 
  • Add chicken broth, reserved butternut squash, black pepper and cayenne pepper to the onion mixture. 
  • Take care with the cayenne pepper!  I added 1/4 tsp because we like our soup a little spicy.  If you don't care for spicy, then just a pinch will do! 
  •  Raise heat and bring to a boil.  Taste the soup for salt and adjust to your liking.  You may need to add a teaspoon or two of salt, depending on how much salt your chicken broth contains.  Continue to simmer soup for approximately 15 minutes.
  • Remove pot from heat.  Break up the cream cheese and add to the soup. The cream cheese is what gives this soup its delicious, creamy texture.  DO NOT BOIL THE CREAM CHEESE! 
  • Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth and creamy, making sure to blend in all the cheese and butternut squash.  If you don't own an immersion blender, you can place the soup in a food processor (in batches) and pulse until smooth and creamy and return to the pot. 

If you want to make the soup look pretty, like I did,  add some sour cream to a plastic squeeze bottle and dilute it with a bit of milk.  Shake and decorate any way you like!  

If you do try this recipe at home, I would love to know how it turns out!  Your comments are always appreciated. 

 Happy Monday, friends!  Wishing you all a happy, cozy week ahead! 




20 comments:

  1. First of all, I love that picture of you sitting on the rocks overlooking the Autumn splendor! Those pictures are just breathtaking! Don't you just LOVE the Fall?! I DO! My fave! Your soup looks so yummy! Cream cheese is an ingredient that I never thought of! I'll bet that just makes it that much better! My philosophy is everything is better with cream cheese! Ha! I agree about roasting the squash....boiling it seems to make it taste a bit watered down. Thank you for posting this recipe! I have a butternut squash so must try this soon! (I just made a pot of cauliflower/broccoli cheese soup last night so we're set for today on this beautiful, sunny, chilly Autumn day in Wisconsin) Hugs....Karen

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet comments, Karen! Your cauliflower and broccoli cheese soup sounds so autumnal and delicious! Hopefully, you made a big batch and have plenty of leftovers for tomorrow! Waving from here to Wisconsin...xoxo

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  2. My mouth was watering as I read your post, Rosinda. We love soup at our home and I'm always looking at new recipes for inspiration. I love the idea of roasting the squash before making this yummy sounding soup. Your presentation is just lovely with the sour cream swirl on top! We are having cooler temperatures now and I made a vegetable beef soup over the weekend. Have a great week, sweetie! xoxo ♥

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    1. Thank you so much, Martha Ellen! Tis the season for soups and your vegetable beef soup sounds delicious! Hope you have a wonderful week, also! Take care! xoxo

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  3. I've pinned it, I definitely want to try it! It looks so good!

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    1. Thank you, Jill! How lovely to see you here! Your pumpkin bread looks delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe! I have started following your blog and hope to "see" you more often! xx

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  4. Oh, Rosinda, the soup sounds fantastic! I can't wait to try it! Just send some chilly weather on out : ) Keep on enjoying every wonderful moment of autumn bliss!! Love, Sherry xoxoxo

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    1. Thank you, dear Sherry! I will send some autumnal weather down your way! Bundle up!! xoxo

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  5. Reading through the recipe, I was just imagining how wonderful this must have been!!! Your Fall photographs are lovely, too....what a talent and treasure you are!! xoxo

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    1. Thank you, sweetheart. I have been thinking a lot about you lately. How is the weather in Colorado? Sending love and hugs...xo

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  6. Well, I didn't know you could boil butternut squash, so I learn something new every day ~ I love the extra concentration of flavour roasting anything adds to soup. Cream cheese will be a new direction for me, and I can see me enjoying it as I usually add a sachet of cream of coconut to mine. I love trying new things in the kitchen. Soup season is most definitely upon us now! ~~~waving~~~

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  7. Hello Debs! I love your idea of adding cream of coconut (or coconut milk) to the soup! I think the flavors would marry very well together! Hugggs from across the pond! xx

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  8. Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe! I can't wait to try it. In the Fall & Winter I could eat soup everyday (no lie! : ) and butternut squash is one of my favorites! I will let you know how it comes out! ♥ Have a wonderful week!!!

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    1. Thank you, Danielle! Hope you enjoy the soup! Have a great week! xo

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  9. Hi Rosinda. I have made your soup and followed the instructions to the letter. It is a delicious soup and once again I have added another recipe card with your name on the top right hand corner to my recipe collection.
    You are a wonderful cook and your family must be so happy to have such delicious food prepared for them.
    Happy October, a little late, but we still have a few more days to go yet.
    Audrey.

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    1. Hello Audrey! It makes me so happy to learn that you made the soup and enjoyed it! How nice it is to think that someone out there has added my recipes to their own collection. That really makes me smile. Thank you for letting me know! I hope you've been enjoying these October days. Soon it will be November! Before we know it, the snow will be here! Sending love and hugs...xo

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  10. Hi Rosinda, I clicked on the Instagram logo at the top and noticed a mug picture in yours pictures. I love that mug and just wondered if you have ever ordered from their store in the UK or did you find that one here in Canada? If you read this comment could you please let me know.
    I really don't know how Instagram or twitter works. Maybe its about time I attempted to learn! Lol!?!
    I hope that you find this comment at some point when you are working on your blog.
    You have some very great pictures on your Instagram.
    Audrey. . . Hugs. . .

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    1. Hello Audrey! I'm not sure which mug you saw on my Instagram feed, but yes, I have ordered from Emma Bridgewater in the UK several times. I am on their mailing list, so when they have special promotions (like free shipping), I take advantage of it. You should sign up to receive their emails! There are also a couple of shops in and around our city that carry Emma Bridgewater pieces, as well. If you have a smart phone, you can easily set up an Instagram account. I think you'd enjoy it. I have "met" many lovely girlfriends on there! Hope you've been keeping well! I hope to post again soon! Have a great weekend! Hugs!

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  11. Dear Rosinda. Thank you for your kind and quick reply to my question. I did sign up for the Emma Bridgewater emails, so it will be fun to receive those. The mug that I saw on your Instagram was the Sanderson Dresser mug, very cute, but wow, those shipping fees! I'll just keep watching their emails for shipping offers. There is a shop near me that had a few EB mugs last year, but not in the patterns that I like. I'll go by there tomorrow and see if they have brought any of the newer ones in for Christmas. There might be a chance. Other than that, maybe we'll just have to plan a trip to England...hmmm...shipping costs...trip costs....hmmm....! We had a great weekend here, beautiful weather, crisp with blue skies. Hope you and your family had a lovely weekend as well. Looking forward to your next post.
    Hugs...Audrey.

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    1. You're welcome, Audrey! I fell in love with the Sanderson mug the first time saw it. The shipping fees to Canada are definitely outrageous, that is why it's best to wait for the free shipping promotions the website offers from time to time. It's the best time to "stock up"! Funny, I have many EB mugs, but not a single one with a Christmas pattern. Usually after Christmas, EB has a big sale. Keep an eye out for it. Sending warm hugs. Stay cozy. xx

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