Butternut Squash Soup

Hi guys!

As autumn is approaching fast, I have a good excuse to dive into recipes for soups. Soups are incredibly versatile and can be much more than the average vegetable cream soup. A little twist like spices, another added vegetable or maybe a little bit of cheese can make a big difference. This twist is exactly what I love about the recipe I'll introduce you to today. The butternut squash soup comes from Gwyneth Paltrow's "Notes from my Kitchen Table" and gets its twist from garam masala or a classic curry powder.

Here's the recipe:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large onions, peeled and roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garam masala or your favourite curry powder
1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced
1l (4 cups; 32 fl. oz) vegetable stock, warmed

1) Heat the olive oil and butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for about 10 minutes, or until beginning to soften. 

2) Add the salt, pepper and garam masala and cook for another 2 minutes.

3) Add the squash and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour the stock into the pot - if it doesn't cover the squash, add some boiling water. Bring to the boil, lower to a simmer and cook until the squash is very tender, about 20 minutes.

4) Let it cool for at least 15 minutes and then purée it in batches in a blender. Be very careful when blending hot liquids. Start slowly and work in batches if necessary. Pour back into the pot, gently heat, season with salt and serve. 

Serves: 4
Active preparation time: 30 minutes
Total preparation time: 1 hours and 10 minutes
© Copyright: Gwyneth Paltrow, "Notes from my Kitchen Table", p. 48

Here's how it looks:

I love this soup because it is so warming and comforting - especially once the weather gets cooler and more uncomfortable. The squash adds a velvety texture to the soup and sweetness while the garam masala spices things up and keeps it interesting. I like to do a mix of garam masala and a strong curry powder. 

Have fun trying and warm up!