Butternut Squash Soup…hold the butter!
Autumn is here! This is my favorite season of the year. Cool, crisp air. Trees turning colors. The sound of crunching leaves as you take your walk. And soups to warm up you and your family!
I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult sometimes to find a delicious and healthy soup on the market; one that is not full of cream, sodium and added sugars. This is the perfect time to put your culinary skills to work! I promise you can do it. This way you are in control of what goes into the soup, and you know exactly what you are eating.
Squash and autumn go hand-in-hand. What’s great about winter squash (butternut, acorn, spaghetti squash, pumpkin, etc…) is that you can find them pretty much anywhere during this season, and they are extremely good for your health. They are full of antioxidants, alpha and beta-carotene, and are considered low-energy density foods. This means that they contain a whole lot of nutrients without the calories! The fiber content is high enough to leave you feeling satisfied.
This butternut squash soup recipe is a classic, making it one of my favorites to share with you. Enjoy!
Ingredients: *serves 5-6
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 onion, diced
4 cups cubed fresh butternut squash (averages to be about 2 butternut squash)
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Heat oil in a large pot. Add carrot, celery and onion. Cook until vegetables have begun to soften and onion turns translucent. This may take about 5 minutes. Stir in butternut squash, thyme, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until squash is fork-tender… about 30 minutes. Let the soup cool slightly (wait about 8-10 minutes to cool) and carefully purée in batches in an upright blender. Convert into a soup serving dish and enjoy!
***A little something I like to add on top of my butternut squash soup…pepper roasted pine nuts! Do you have a creative twist for your butternut squash soup? Let me know!