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Cozy Brown Butter Butternut Squash Soup: Easy & Best Recipe

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This isn’t your average butternut squash soup. It’s been tested and tweaked until it was just right, and it brings a little bit of professional-chef magic to your home kitchen without any of the fuss. You know how some recipes feel like a project? This one feels like a hug.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed (about 4 cups)
  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth (low-sodium)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk (for garnish, optional)
  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (pepitas) (for garnish, optional)
  • Fresh sage leaves (for garnish, optional)
  • Extra drizzle of brown butter (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter: Place your large pot over medium heat. Add the 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Let it melt completely, then continue to cook, swirling the pan occasionally. The butter will start to foam, then the foam will subside, and you will see little brown specks forming at the bottom. This is the milk solids toasting. It should smell nutty and wonderful. This whole process takes about 4-5 minutes. The moment it turns a golden-amber color and smells like toasted hazelnuts, remove it fro…
  2. Sauté the Aromatics: Return the pot to medium heat. Add a tablespoon of the reserved brown butter (or a little olive oil) to the pot. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes, until it becomes soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  3. Cook the Squash: Add the cubed butternut squash to the pot. Stir it around with the onions and garlic for about 2-3 minutes. This helps to coat the squash in the flavor and starts the cooking process.
  4. Add the Broth and Simmer: Pour in the 4 cups of broth. Add the 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Stir everything together. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes, or until the squash is very tender. You should be able to easily pierce a cube with a fork. Your kitchen will smell amazing at this point.
  5. Blend Until Silky: Remove the pot from the heat. If you are using an immersion blender, carefully blend the soup directly in the pot until it is completely smooth and velvety. If you are using a regular blender, let the soup cool for about 10 minutes. Then, working in batches, carefully blend the soup until smooth. Remember the towel trick!
  6. Finish with Brown Butter: Once the soup is blended, stir in the remaining reserved brown butter. This is where the magic happens. The nutty flavor of the brown butter will meld perfectly with the sweet squash. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning. You might want a pinch more salt or a little extra pepper.
  7. Serve and Garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls. If you are using cream or coconut milk, drizzle a little on top and swirl it with a knife or toothpick. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and a few fried sage leaves if you have them. A final drizzle of extra brown butter is never a bad idea.

Notes

Browning butter is the most important step, and it happens fast. Do not walk away from the pan. The line between perfectly nutty and burnt is about 15 seconds. When the foam subsides and you see the brown specks, take it off the heat right away. If it smells like burnt popcorn, you have gone too far. Start over—it is worth it. For a thicker, more stew-like soup, use only 3 cups of broth. For a thinner, more sippable soup, use 5 cups. This soup is actually better the next day. The flavors have time to get to know each other. Make it a day ahead and just reheat it gently on the stove.

Nutrition

Keywords: butternut squash soup, brown butter, cozy soup, fall recipe, easy soup, gluten-free soup, vegetarian soup

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/cozy-brown-butter-butternut-squash-soup-easy-and-best-recipe/