Butternut squash is nature’s way of making sure that everyone has a delicious and nutritious option to add to their winter menu. Although this type of squash is often thought of as a vegetable, it is technically a fruit. You’ll find that the creamy texture works perfectly for creating a warm, thick soup. You can also enjoy knowing that making butternut squash the main ingredient in your soup recipe helps you get your daily dose of vitamin C. Making butternut squash soup is fairly simple, and these tips will help you get the most flavor into each spoonful.
Roast the Squash First to Deepen the Flavor
Many recipes suggest boiling the squash to soften the fruit. While this method works, it requires extra chopping and peeling. You can skip the painstaking prep work by splitting the squash in half and roasting it in the oven. This creates a caramelization effect that adds a deeper layer of flavor to your soup. Once it is roasted, all you’ll need to do is scoop out the softened fruit and add it to the rest of the ingredients.
Substitute Vegetable Broth for Chicken or Beef
Making a vegan soup will also require you to alter some of the ingredients that you’ll find in many common recipes. Our meal delivery service New Jersey vegans prefer often uses vegetable stock in place of animal-based broths whenever they are called for in a recipe. You’ll still infuse the soup with plenty of flavor while appealing to a wider range of people with special dietary needs.
Use Coconut Milk or Potatoes to Add Creaminess
Butternut squash is already creamy, and you can make the soup thicker by replacing a portion of the vegetable stock with coconut milk. Another method to increase the thickness is to blend roasted potatoes into the soup. Our pre-roasted sweet potatoes make an excellent addition to butternut squash soup, and they make up for the extra carbs by adding another wonderful boost of nutrition.
Infuse Your Soup With Fresh Herbs and Spices
Once you’ve created the main base for your soup, you can have some fun by mixing in your favorite herbs and spices to create the flavor you crave. Rosemary and sage are popular additions to this type of soup, and they add that fall flavor that everyone loves. You can also add cinnamon or ginger to create a different level of flavor. If you’ve used coconut milk as part of your base, then adding some flakes can bring out more of the taste. The sky is pretty much the limit regarding which herbs and spices will work with butternut squash.
A steaming bowl of soup warms your soul as the weather starts to turn colder. Butternut squash soup is perfect for dinner, and you can easily make a little extra to stash in your lunch tote. As you learn how to make this soup, be sure to experiment with the flavors. Changing up the herbs and spices you use makes this soup versatile, and keeps it interesting enough to become one of your favorite staples.