My nth version of squash soup. Just when I thought my last version was good, I discovered it could be made better.
What’s different about this squash soup? Compared to my old ones, almost everything. It’s pure squash puree this time. No more potatoes to thicken the soup.
Squash Soup
Tips for the tastiest squash soup: First, roast the squash to remove water and concentrate the flavors. Second, make a spice base by caramelizing onion in butter. And, third, use the best chicken bone broth.
Equipment
- Immersion blender
Ingredients
- 1 kilogram squash (see notes after the recipe)
- oil
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup chopped onion
- ¼ teaspoon herbes de Provence (see notes after the recipe)
- salt
- pepper
- 5 to 6 cups chicken bone broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- whipped cream to garnish (optional)
Instructions
Roast the squash
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Spray a baking tray with oil.
- Cut off the skin of the squash, scoop out and discard the seeds, then cut into wedges.
- Spread the squash wedges on the prepared tray.
- Roast at 375F for ten minutes. Turn down the temperature to 325F and cook for another 20 minutes until soft enough to squish with the back of a fork.
Make a spice base
- In a pot, melt the butter.
- Spread the chopped onion on the hot butter and allow to soften, with occasional stirring, over medium-low heat.
- Add a teaspoonful of salt, two pinches of ground pepper and the herbes de Provence.
- Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
Complete the squash soup
- Pour in half of the broth and bring to a simmer (add more salt and pepper if your broth is unseasoned or underseasoned).
- Add the roasted squash to the broth and cook until boiling gently. Turn off the heat.
- Using an immersion blender, puree the squash and onion in the pot until smooth.
- Set the pot over low heat and pour in the cream. Stir until smooth.
- Slowly add more broth, stirring as your pour, until the creamy pureed squash reaches the consistency of a thick soup (see notes after the recipe).
- Taste, and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Ladle the squash soup into bowls and, optionally, top with whipped cream before serving.
Notes
One-half of a whole calabaza (Cucurbita moschata) was used in this recipe. Butternut squash would be the closest equivalent in the northern hemisphere.
Herbes de Provence is a commercial blend of herbs, available in the spice section of the grocery, that mimics the flavors of the cooking in Provence. The most common components are rosemary, thyme, oregano, savory and marjoram.
About the consistency of the squash soup. It’s a soup. It’s not a sauce and it’s not a savory pudding. Squash soup is thick but it should be perfectly pourable.
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