Easy Winter Squash Soup

One of the nice things about making this soup is that you can experiment with it and make it your own and get good results! You can use Butternut, Hubbard (any variety will work), Acorn . . . or any winter squash that you can cut in half, de-seed and bake in the oven!

Directions:

  • Place oven rack in middle of oven
  • Pre-heat oven to 325 – 350 degrees
  • Select one Winter Squash of a medium to large size (or two if using acorn.)
  • Scrub exterior of squash
  • Cut squash in half lengthwise (stem to base).
  • Scoop out seeds and discard.
  • Turn cut-side-down on baking sheet
  • Place in oven
  • Pour about ¼ to ½ inch water onto baking sheet
  • Bake for 1 hour or so – until it is tender and can be pierced with a cooking fork
  • Allow cooked squash to cool for 15 minutes or more
  • Scoop out cooked squash
  • Add any combination ¼ teaspoon of the following spices:

Ground Nutmeg
Ground Cinnamon
Ground Ginger
Salt
Black or white pepper
Ground Cumin
Ground Cardamom
Hot pepper flakes

  • Add 1/2 teaspoon or more of dehydrated onion flakes
  • Use blender to blend with 1 can of vegetable or chicken broth until it is the consistency you like for cream soups. You can also use some apple cider or ½ a teaspoon or so of prepared mustard, if you wish. Be a little creative with what you have on hand. (You can hide a few left-over veggies in the soup from yesterday’s meal when you are blending it, or cut up some fresh apple or carrot and blend it in!)
  • Thoroughly re-heat soup and serve hot.
  • Serve with some Worcestershire Sauce sprinkled on top, a dollop of sour cream and scatter a few caraway seeds or dill weed on top, if you wish.)
  • Give it a taste as you add things and you can decide for yourself as to what to put in or leave out!
  • Very good with apple slices, Sharp Cheddar or Smoked Gouda cheese, and crusty bread.
  • Refrigerate any leftovers -- if there are any -- and thoroughly reheat when served.

Please let us know how this soup turned out for you and any variations you have come up with for your family. E-mail us at: mehartwick@nothnagle.com. Check out our other recipes here.