Caramelized Butternut Squash Soup

So we may or may not have had to buy a second bag of Halloween candy because we ate most of it before it was time for trick-or-treating… Next year we’re not buying candy until October 31st!

Now that Halloween is over, we’ve been craving wholesome meals made with plenty of vegetables. This creamy butternut squash soup is made with carrots and parsnips so it’s a nice immune system booster and really hits the spot when it’s -10 C in Calgary!

Caramelized Butternut Squash Soup

1 medium Butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced (2-3 pounds)
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 small yellow onion finely chopped
1 parsnip, peeled and sliced
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
3 cups low sodium vegetable stock
2 cups light coconut milk
1 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 1/2 teaspoon salt (or less if using vegetable broth with sodium)
Freshly ground black pepper to taste (approximately 1/4 teaspoon)
A dash of chili pepper flakes (optional)

1. Melt the butter or margarine in a heavy skillet. Add the diced squash and cook without stirring until browned underneath, about 6 minutes. Then stir the squash and cook until browned on all sides, about 4 more minutes. Remove from the skillet.
2. Melt the coconut oil in the same skillet and add chopped onion, parsnip and carrots. Saute for 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer the caramelized squash, onion, parsnip and carrots to a large pot. Add 2 cups of vegetable stock, or more if needed, until vegetables are covered by a layer of the vegetable stock. Add coriander, salt and pepper.
3. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. When vegetables are cooked, remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of coconut milk.
4. Puree the mixture in batches until smooth. Return to pot.
5. Warm up the soup before serving and add more vegetable stock if needed. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve with a fresh french baguette and a scoop of sour cream if desired.

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Creamy Potato Soup

This recipe has been in our family for generations. It’s delicious, creamy and so comforting on a cold day. We like to eat it with grilled cheese or French bread.

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 cups water (or more, if needed)
3 Bay leaves
2 teaspoons Vegeta (or seasoning salt)
Salt and pepper to taste
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

First, make a roux (pronounced “roo”). Roux is a basic thickening agent used when making stews, soups and sauces. Traditional roux recipes call for equal parts of butter and flour, but in this creamy potato soup we prefer to use olive oil.

1. Heat oil in a pan. Turn the heat down to medium. Add the flour gradually and stir constantly. It should be smooth with no lumps. Keep stirring until the flour is light brown. Make sure it doesn’t burn.
2. Remove from heat and add water. Be very careful, the roux will be extremely hot, and when you add water, be careful not to splash yourself or get burned.
3. Add potatoes, carrots, Bay leaves, salt, pepper and Vegeta.
4. Bring to a boil and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are soft.
5. Mash with a potato masher instead of using a blender.
6. Stir in sour cream and parsley, and remove Bay leaves. For a vegan version of this soup, omit sour cream. The soup is still very yummy.
7. Serve hot with a slice of fresh French bread or grilled cheese.