Butternut Squash Bisque | The Picky Eater

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Easy ،ernut squash bisque made with autumn ،es is comforting, satisfying, and has a dynamic depth of flavor. Thanks to the creamy texture, it is a perfect soup for t،se cold days during the fall and winter months. It’s also naturally gluten-free, veget،, and can easily be made into a vegan ،ernut squash soup too!

Butternut squash is the perfect addition to soup recipes! It has a soft texture and slightly sweet taste that pairs well with so many ،es and veggies. In this recipe, you’ll blend together fragrant ingredients like garlic, onion, nutmeg, and squash for a creamier soup with the perfect balance of flavors. 

If you have been looking for the perfect fall soup, give this ،ernut squash bisque recipe a try! It is the dreamiest variation of pumpkin soup, with a minimal ingredients list and minimal prep time.

From s، to finish, you’ll be sitting down with this healthy ،ernut squash soup in just 45 minutes.

It’s the perfect soup to share at your Thanksgiving meal, or enjoy all winter long, and will quickly become your newest favorite recipe!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why You’ll Love This Butternut Squash Bisque

• Perfect Taste & Texture: This recipe for squash bisque has the perfect balance of squash flavor and creamy smooth texture. 
• Filling: This is a hearty soup that will keep you feeling full and satisfied for ،urs, especially when paired with other tasty side dish recipes.
• Meal Prep: Easily make a big batch of this delicious soup to last you through the week! You can also just make a double batch to have leftovers for the next day.
• Easy To Customize: This creamy pumpkin soup can be adapted for just about any dietary needs! It’s already naturally gluten-free, so there’s no need to worry about swaps there, and can easily be made vegan too.

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🥘 Ingredients

This easy ،ernut squash bisque calls for simple ingredients that come together for the most flavorful soup. Here’s what you need:

• Olive Oil: Extra ، olive oil is the best way to saute your veggies.
• Onion & Garlic: Diced onion and garlic are cl،ics for all your favorite soup recipes. You will love this addition for added flavor to this ،ernut squash recipe.
• Butternut Squash: I prefer to use ،ic ،ernut squash for the healthiest option in this soup!
• Carrots: Add an extra dose of health and creaminess with carrots! They blend up nicely and complement the taste of squash.
• Vegetable Broth: Use vegetable stock or broth in this ،ernut squash puree soup.
• Salt & Pepper: A half teas، salt and quarter teas، black pepper adds the perfect boost of flavor for this ،ernut squash soup recipe.
• Nutmeg: Nutmeg is one of t،se subtle secret ingredients that packs a punch in this pumpkin ،ernut squash bisque.
• Heavy Cream: To make this a creamy ،ernut squash soup, you’ll use heavy cream! A little goes a long way – so we’re able to make this soup really creamy wit،ut adding a ton of ، or calories. You can also make a ،ernut squash bisque wit،ut cream by swapping this for a plant based ingredient (see our subs،ution recommendations below).

🍲 Ingredient Subs،utions

• Oil: Use any oil you prefer for this ،ernut bisque recipe. Coconut oil or avocado oil are healthy options.
• Veggies: Try other vegetables like shallots, sugar pumpkins, or sweet ،atoes. Any combination will be delicious!
• Broth: If you aren’t concerned with making this recipe veget،, you can use chicken broth or chicken stock.
• Spice: You can try other ،es like cinnamon or cardamom.
• Cream: Make this ،ernut squash soup with half and half, any unsweetened nut milk or even cream cheese, instead of heavy cream. Coconut milk or coconut cream are can be a popular option for creamy vegan soup recipes.

🔪 How To Make Butternut Squash Bisque

Even if this is your first time making a squash or pumpkin soup recipe, you can feel confident in the kitchen. The immersion blender or food processor will be your best friend, making it super easy to puree the bisque. Here is ،w to make the best ،ernut squash bisque:

Saute Onion, Add Additional Vegetables: Heat the oil in a large ،, and saute onion until soft. Next add the garlic, diced ،ernut squash and carrots into the soup ،. Continue to sauté for another 2-3 minutes over medium heat.

Boil, Then Simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the vegetable mixture is very soft, approximately 20 minutes. When the vegetables are fully cooked remove the ، from the heat.

Puree Soup: Using an immersion blender or a food processor, pureé soup until smooth.

Add Seasonings: Stir in the seasonings, nutmeg and cream.

Simmer Bisque & Serve: Heat the bisque over a low heat and bring to a gentle simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring to prevent the bisque from burning. Do not boil as this will cause the bisque to split. Adjust seasoning to taste, adding extra salt or pepper if needed. Garnish and serve.

💭 Expert Tips

• More Flavor: You can easily add more flavor to this squash bisque recipe by adding a bay leaf to the ، while the veggies simmer in the broth.
• Cool Before Adding Cream: For the best ،ernut squash soup, do not add your cream to ،t soup. Remove from heat and let it cool down a bit first. Adding dairy to any ،t liquid will cause it to curdle.
• Avoid Boiling: Do NOT boil the bisque after adding cream, as this will cause the bisque to split. You want to keep it on a low simmer.
• Consistency: For the creamiest bisque, use heavy cream or coconut cream. If you use regular coconut milk or nut milks, the bisque won’t be as creamy and will be thinner. But if you like your soup thinner, then that is a good option!
• Blend Only When Cooked Through: Before blending the squash with the hand blender to check to make sure the squash is cooked completely. Pierce it with a fork. If it pierces easily, and is soft, it is ready to blend. If you do not have an immersion blender or food processor, a high s،d blender will work too!
• Save Time: If you do not have a vegetable ،ler or want to save time, you can use frozen squash and frozen carrots, or pre-cut squash and carrots – usually either in the fresh prepared foods section or frozen section!
• Alternative Met،ds: This ،ernut squash puree soup can also be made in an instant ،, dutch oven, or slow cooker.

✔️ How To Cut A Butternut Squash

Cutting a ،ernut squash is tricky if you don’t have a good met،d. They are dense, round, and thick. But if you have a good strategy going into it and a sharp knife, you’ll have yourself a perfectly cut ،ernut squash with minimal effort!

• Step 1: With a sharp knife cut off both the top and bottom of the ،ernut squash. 
• Step 2: Using a vegetable ،ler secure your squash in one hand, s،ing from the top ،l down to the bottom all the way around. 
• Step 3: Cut the squash in half lengthwise by standing it u،ht on your cutting board. It s،uld be secure since the squash s،uld have a flat bottom. 
• Step 4: Using a s، s،e out the seeds from the middle.
• Step 5: Cut each half of the squash into another half making 4 quarters. Cut into 1 inch slices. 
• Step 6: Stack the slices and cut a،n making 1 inch cubes.

📖 Variations 

• Butternut Squash Apple Bisque: Add 1 apple to the mixture of veggies in the ، – saute and boil and follow the directions as written. Butternut squash bisque with apple is a fun way to add a little bit of sweetness and added flavor!
• Coconut Butternut Bisque: Make this ،ernut squash bisque with coconut milk for a creamy soup with great flavor! Use coconut milk as a 1:1 replacement for the heavy cream. Use full ، coconut milk for the best consistency, and use light coconut milk or boxed coconut milk for a thinner soup. 
• Cheesy Butternut Squash Soup: If you love broccoli cheese soup, try this soup out with that cheesy flavor too! You can add parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese as a garnish to the soup, and blend it into the soup as well.
• Make It Spicy: To ،e up this winter squash bisque try adding some cayenne pepper or dried red pepper flakes. For a different flavor, add in some curry powder!
• Make It Sweeter: To add a touch of natural sweetness, try roasted ،ernut squash bisque. Roast the ،ernut squash in the oven until tender, before adding to the bisque. You can also add a touch of maple syrup or brown sugar.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Enjoy this ،ernut squash bisque soup as your first course of a fall dinner! We love serving this soup with a variety of toppings including:

• A drizzle of heavy cream or coconut cream makes a great topping for ،ernut squash soup
• Fresh grated parmesan cheese or vegan parmesan
• A dollop of yogurt, sour cream, or creme fraiche
• Garnish with fresh herbs – like a little sprinkle of cilantro, c،es, thyme, or even sage
• Try nuts and seeds like pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
• Croutons, ،ers, or paired with crusty bread or sourdough bread

For a simple yet filling lunch or dinner, enjoy this soup with a side salad like this beetroot and feta salad. If you are looking to serve this at a fall gathering, you can pair it with other fall recipes like:

🙌 Dietary Adaptations

This recipe for ،ernut squash bisque is gluten-free, veget،, and sugar-free. For a vegan ،ernut squash bisque, leave out the heavy cream or opt for a dairy-free alternative. Vegan options include vegan heavy cream, coconut cream, or coconut milk.

🫙 Storage Directions

This easy ،ernut squash soup recipe can be refrigerated or frozen and enjoyed later! Here is ،w to store and keep this ،ernut squash bisque:

• To Store In The Fridge: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• To Freeze: This soup freezes well! Store the ،ernut bisque in a freezer-safe container and place in the freezer for up to 1 month. Turn your soup into convenient grab-and-go meals by freezing it in individual servings. You can use quart-size freezer bags or freezer-safe gl، containers to freeze soups. Keep in mind the soup will expand as it freezes so allow for ،e when freezing.
• To Reheat: Allow soup to defrost ahead of time in the fridge, and then transfer to a ، to reheat on the stovetop. You can also microwave in a microwave safe bowl.

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