Now is the perfect moment to serve up this lovely butternut squash soup recipe, especially if you're gathering outside and there's a chill in the air. The warming spice of the ginger combined with the silky smooth texture of the butternut squash is a wonderful combo. Add more spice as you feel the occasion deserves, but either way this soup is a winner. Even better, it's a quick one pan moment and is so easy to do it's sure to become a firm favourite.
The recipe serves six, which might be wishful thinking at the moment so you might just have to supersize your portions (not a problem) or freeze some for next time. Read on to find out how to make it, then make sure you check out our best BBQ recipes if you fancy adding some grilling action to your winter garden party ideas.
- This recipe is taken from Delicious Soups by Belinda Williams and published by Ryland Peters & Small
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH ORANGE AND GINGER
Ingredients:
- 55g butter
- 2 onions, diced
- 1 large butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and sliced
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 leek, white only, sliced
- a good pinch of cumin seeds
- a good pinch of garam masala
- a good pinch of ground turmeric
- a pinch of saffron fronds (optional)
- a good pinch of ground ginger or a 1-cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- freshly grated zest and freshly squeezed juice of 1 large orange
- 1.5 litres vegetable stock
- 350 ml sour cream
- sea salt and ground black pepper
- toasted pumpkin seeds, to garnish
- sprigs of fresh thyme, to garnish
Method
1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the onions, squash, carrots and leek. Toss the vegetables in the butter and cook over medium heat for a few minutes, then stir in the spices and orange zest so that the vegetables are evenly coated. Pour over the stock, cover the pan and simmer for about 15–20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
2. Take the pan off the heat and blend with a stick blender until very smooth. Stir in the orange juice and sour cream, and season to taste with salt and black pepper.
3. Ladle the soup into bowls or mugs and sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh thyme leaves before serving.
Want to try growing your own butternut squash in your veg patch? Our guide on how to grow butternut squash has all the advice you'll need to get started. Plus, head over to our grow your own hub for even more step-by-step guides.
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