Best Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
Few meals are as easy, delicious, and filling as a hearty soup. No matter the weather, this vegan butternut squash soup recipe can be perfect for every occasion. It’s easy to make in advance and it can be made in bulk to enjoy later.
At Willow in NYC every dish is homey and familiar, then elevated with unique flavors and upscale presentation. We’re taking relatable American food and turning it on its head—then making it vegan!
Tips for Recreating Willow’s Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
Pick the Right Butternut Squash
The foundation of any memorable meal is high-quality, fresh ingredients.
Butternut squash is a seasonal vegetable found fresh in the fall months in the United States. As a result, this soup is made at its freshest in September and October during the harvest season. Perfect soup weather! However, this is only if you’re planning to shop locally. Fresh butternut squash can be found in most grocery stores year-round.
The best butternut squash will have an even beige color. Any produce with bruises, punctures, or other deep damage shouldn’t be chosen due to its ability to harbor bacteria and mold. Slight, surface scratches are normal, however, and shouldn’t be of concern unless they are brown in color or reveal the inner flesh of the squash. The squash should also feel relatively heavy with a uniform shape and size.
Use the Right Equipment
This recipe calls for either a blender or a food processor to help create a smooth, velvety consistency for your soup. While both tools are viable and offer their own benefits, they aren’t equal.
Food processors are better at reducing large, hard substances into smaller forms. Blenders, on the other hand, are better for soft substances and liquids. Using one over the other may produce small differences in the outcome of your soup, and you may find that you prefer one compared to the other.
Feel free to experiment with different equipment, like immersion blenders, so you can tailor this easy vegan recipe to your tastes and create a dish that’s personal to you.
Prepare in Advance
One of the best things about our vegan butternut squash soup is how quickly it can be prepared and finished – less than an hour and a half from start to finish!
However, if you’re looking to prepare this recipe for a holiday event, you can make it advance as well. It’s easy to reheat and it also freezes well.
Best Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 75 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Ingredients
| 1 large butternut squash 1 large onion 3 tablespoons vegan butter 3 cloves of garlic 2 cups unsweetened plant-based milk 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 cup white wine | Salt and pepper to taste
-Garnish- |
Before you begin cooking, chop your onions and cube your squash to save time.
Cooking Instructions
- Sweat chopped onions, whole garlic cloves, and butter in a soup pot until translucent
- Increase temperature to caramelize
- Deglaze with white wine
- Reduce to evaporate alcohol
- Reduce heat and add cubed butternut squash, milk, and nutmeg
- Cook covered for 30-40 minutes
- Mix soup in a blender or food processor until smooth
- Serve hot and garnish with cubed feta, roasted pistachios, and mint leaves
Nutritional Information
When it comes to nutrition, butternut squash can be a tasty way to receive your daily vitamins and minerals.
First, much like citrus fruits, this winter squash is rich in Vitamin C. In fact, a single serving (which is about one cup of cubed pieces) can contain nearly 50% of the amount of Vitamin C required each day.
It’s also a good source of Vitamin B6, supplying up to 10% of the daily needed intake. Vitamin B6 is responsible for brain health and development, and it can also help bolster your immune system.
Other important nutrients found in butternut squash are calcium, magnesium, and iron. Not only are these important in an everyday diet, but these are nutrients that may be missed in a vegan diet without careful consideration. The butternut squash provides a delicious and hearty way of meeting daily intake needs as a vegan.
Plant-based milk also tends to offer more hydration than non-vegan milk, all while providing a creamy texture to your soup. It can also be rich in calcium, even more so if it is a fortified variety.
While onions are used in this soup to provide depth to the flavor and aromatics, they’re also rich in antioxidants and compounds that can fight inflammation in the body. This, paired with the other health aspects of onions, can help lower the risk for heart disease.
Whether you’re looking to join us at our restaurant on 8th Avenue in NYC or want to take advantage of our online ordering options; you can skip the cooking time and experience true vegan excellence.
