Butternut Squash Soup with Ghost Croutons
This is a great warm, creamy, and comforting soup. It is light and healthy, but feels and taste indulgent.
Foto: Half Baked Harvest
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 8 leaves fresh sage
- 1 onion (peeled and chopped)
- 2 carrots (peeled and chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled and chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Rosemary
- 1 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt and Black pepper
- 2 pounds butternut squash (Pumpkin or any orange flesh squash, halved, peeled, deseeded and cut into chunks)
- 3 cups good-quality Chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream*
- 2 -3 tablespoons unsalted Butter
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 slices Beer Bread*
- Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Olive oil or Butter*
Steps
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Put a very large saucepan on a medium heat and pour in a couple of glugs of olive oil.
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Add the sage leaves and fry for around 30 seconds or until dark green and crisp. Quickly remove them with a slotted spoon. You'll use these for sprinkling over the soup at the end. In the pan you'll be left with a beautifully flavored oil.
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Put the pot back on the heat and throw in your onion, celery, carrot, garlic, rosemary, crushed red pepper and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cook gently for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are sweet and soft. Add the squash and the stock to the pan, bring to a boil and simmer for around 40-50 minutes.
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When the squash is soft and cooked through, whiz the soup with an immersion blender or pour it into a standard blender or food processor and pulse until you have a smooth puree (but you can leave it slightly chunky if you like).
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Return to the pot and add the cream and butter, storring until mixed through. Allow to simmer on the stove until ready to serve.
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Make your croutons:
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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Take a ghost cookie cutter and cut your beer bread into to four ghost. Lightly butter one side of the toast and place butter side down on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the top side with as much cheese as you desire. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until your ghost are toasted and the cheese has melted.
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To serve:
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Divide the soup between your bowls, placing a ghost on top of each. Sprinkle with a few of your crispy sage leaves.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Macronutrients
*DV = Daily Value based on a 2,000 calorie diet


















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