Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Autumn Equinox Eats: Vegan Butternut Squash (and Apple) Soup

vegan butternut squash soup

It's that time of year...there's a chill in that autumnal air, and soup season has definitely begun!

For today's Autumn Equinox VeganMofo entry I'm revamping an entry for my all-time favorite soup: butternut squash.

I've always loved butternut squash soup (who wouldn't, I ask?). A few years ago, however, I was introduced to a new type of butternut squash soup at a Thanksgiving meal with my husband's family when my mother-in-law brought butternut squash soup with green apple. If you've ever tried it before, you know how amazing that extra tart note is in this dish. It balances the sweetness of the squash perfectly!

If you've never had the pleasure of delving into a bowl of butternut squash-apple goodness, it is something that must be tried to be fully understood.

This recipe is adapted from Simply Recipes.

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
What You'll Need:
2 tbsp margarine (I recommend Earth Balance)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 rib of celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 butternut squash (about 20 oz), peeled and chopped (or you can buy some pre-chopped and peeled squash--much easier!)
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
3 cups vegetable broth
1 cup apple cider*
pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon and cayenne, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
chives, optional
vegan sour cream (or cashew or coconut cream), optional

What You'll Need to Do:
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the pot, then add the onion, carrot and celery and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the broth and apple cider, along with the butternut squash and apple. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cover. Simmer for approximately 30 minutes, until the squash and carrots have softened. Once everything has softened, puree in your blender in batches (be sure to release the steam if your blender does not do that for you!), or with an immersion blender. Mix in your nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper, to taste. Top with some vegan cream, if using.

Tips and Tricks:
I like to pair this with some sourdough toast and roasted broccoli. I'd also recommend adding a cashew or coconut cream swirl on top--or some vegan sour cream.

*I love adding apple cider to this soup! It kicks up the apple quotient just a bit and it's delicious. In a pinch, however, water will do fine as well.

7 comments:

  1. Mmm, butternut squash soup is great! I think I've only had it with apple once, and it was a really good combination. I love putting some curry powder or something spicy in there as well to balance out the sweetness.

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  2. I have a similar recipe that is staple in my kitchen. one of the families favorites! Especially in Fall after we do our annual apple picking (organic apples literally at my fingertips!!! Needless to say i come back with far too many) I am looking forward to trying your version to compare. I adore acv

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  3. Thank you for sharing this recipie, I made this tonight, and it was amazing!! I am am going to freeze the leftover miso mixture in an ice cube tray for easy measurement in the future. For soft boiled eggs place eggs in 1″ boiling water, cover and cook for 6 minutes exactly, and they come out perfectly. Thanks again!Regards: Eve Hunt

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  4. Hi
    How I share your post to my social friennds? I found a new topic that have to share my friend immediatly. Because of I am a food lover and lot of my friends are foodie. I am also a new cooker but still do not know how to cook delicious food.I want to save my time to cook thats why I am finding a blender. Which blender you use to blend your cooking? Could you mention me a best immersion blender for me which you use. I want to make me a good coocker. I hope you will help me reach out a good coocker.
    Thanks

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  5. his looks So amazing! I have only recently discovered that I love butternut squash! I was scared to try it after multiple attempts to like spaghetti squash were made, I just do not like spaghetti squash! But I have a cousin who’s tastes are completely different from mine and she loves spaghetti squash and hates butternut, so I had to give it a try and Yum.
    Joseph Donahue

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  6. I appreciate the thought that getting kids cooking helps to combat childhood obesity. It makes sense to me that a person who learns to cook with real food ingredients instead of a bunch of processed shortcuts will develop an appreciation of real foods. It also makes sense to me that a diet based on those actual foods will help people, including children, to understand what they are really eating, and I think that kind of consideration is one of the keys to overcoming obesity.
    Kelly Hubbard

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