Description
Alton Brown’s hearty squash soup blends seasonal produce with rich, warming spices. Home cooks can easily prepare this comforting dish that brings Mediterranean flavors directly to your kitchen table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) butternut squash, seeded and cut into 2-inch chunks
- 3 cups (710 milliliters) chicken or vegetable stock
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) honey
- 4 fl oz (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- ½ tsp freshly ground white pepper
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- Melted butter, for brushing
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F with center rack positioned for consistent heat circulation.
- Seasoning: Toss butternut squash cubes with melted butter, salt, and white pepper, ensuring thorough coating and even distribution of seasonings.
- Roasting: Arrange seasoned squash in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet, allowing space between pieces to promote caramelization and golden browning; roast for 30-35 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform cooking.
- Soup Base: Transfer roasted squash to large pot, incorporating fresh ginger, honey, and vegetable stock; purée using immersion blender until completely smooth and well-integrated.
- Creaming: Gradually blend in heavy cream while continuing to mix, creating a luxurious and velvety consistency; return to gentle simmer to meld flavors.
- Finishing: Enhance with freshly grated nutmeg, then taste and refine seasoning with additional salt and white pepper as desired, achieving a perfectly balanced and silky soup.
Notes
- Roast with Precision: Space squash cubes evenly on the baking sheet to achieve perfect caramelization and prevent steaming.
- Butter’s Magic Touch: Melted butter helps create a rich, golden-brown exterior and enhances the squash’s natural sweetness.
- Blending Technique: Use an immersion blender for smooth, lump-free consistency, ensuring a velvety soup texture.
- Flavor Balancing: Slowly add cream and adjust seasonings to create a harmonious, well-rounded taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 202
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 809 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 36 mg