This easy-to-make soup is the perfect starter to any autumn-inspired festive feast!
It’s officially soup season and I am revisiting my recipe for this Creamy Curry Butternut Squash Soup. This was a very popular recipe when I first posted it on my blog back in 2015 and after making it again, I’m reminded how simple this flavourful soup is to prepare. My fiance says that this most delicious squash dish that he has had and that this would be the perfect starter to any autumn-inspired festive feast!
The spice blend of curry and cinnamon is warming and familiar. The red pepper flakes add a subtle amount of heat. I’ve updated this recipe to include a homemade cashew cream recipe as an alternative option to coconut milk. Both options work well to round out the flavours in this soup - you won’t miss the dairy!
Pumpkin Spiced Butternut Squash Seeds
Don’t throw away the seeds! Growing up, one of my favourite things to make whenever Halloween rolled around was roasted pumpkin seeds. Did you know that you can roast squash seeds in much the same way that you would with pumpkin seeds!? I’ve included my recipe below for Pumpkin Spiced Butternut Squash Seeds which nicely compliment this soup as a crunchy garnish. Best of all, this zero-waste recipe means that you’re putting the seeds to use instead of throwing them in the compost!
Sustainable Dinnerware
I plated this soup using dishes from my Fable speckled white dinnerware set. When we were looking to purchase new dishes earlier this year, finding a sustainable brand with ethical practices, and that used non-toxic materials was at the top of our wish list. I was over the moon when we discovered Fable - a brand that’s dedicated to becoming a zero-waste company and is in the process of becoming a Certified B Corporation.
I adore our dinnerware set and all that this brand is doing to put the environment first. Not only are their designs beautifully crafted, but their stoneware is made from recycled ceramics and they use a glaze that is free of lead and other heavy metals. All broken glazed ceramics are recycled into concrete and instead of flushing saturated water down the drain, they recycle it on-site, creating zero water waste. When shipping their products, they use eco-friendly and plastic-free packaging.
You can use my code LOVE10 for 10% OFF fablehome.co!
Creamy Curry Butternut Squash Soup (vegan, oil-free & gluten-free)
INGREDIENTS (makes 6 servings)
1 cup red onion, roughly diced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 butternut squash (about 3.5 lbs)
2 tablespoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
sea salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
homemade cashew cream (recipe below) or 1 x 14-ounce (414 ml) can of full-fat coconut milk
INSTRUCTIONS
Carefully peel your squash. Cut squash in half so that the top and bottom are separated (this will make it easier to handle). Cut the bottom portion in half, remove seeds. Optionally, set the seeds aside to make Pumpkin Spiced Butternut Squash Seeds as a garnish for this soup (recipe below). Chop squash into 1/2 inch pieces.
Heat a large heavy soup pot and add a couple of tablespoons of water. You may have to add a couple more tablespoons of water as you go, just to ensure that nothing sticks.
Add onions and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add garlic and sauté for another minute, making sure not to burn the garlic.
Next, add the butternut squash, curry powder, cinnamon, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
Add vegetable broth and cashew cream or coconut milk, stirring to combine. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat. Simmer soup on low heat for about 15 minutes, or until the squash is soft.
Remove the pot from the heat. Working in small batches, carefully ladle the soup into a blender to puree. Alternatively, you can use a handheld emulsifier.
Note: I prefer to use a glass blender when blending hot food as I am personally wary about placing hot food in plastic. If you’re using a blender with a plastic container you can always opt to allow the soup to cool before blending.
Place the pureed soup back in the pot and warm before serving. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Optionally, garnish each serving with Pumpkin Spiced Butternut Squash Seeds (recipe below). You can also garnish with plain vegan yogurt as pictured and/or red pepper flakes for added spice.
Homemade Cashew Cream
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup raw cashews, soaked
1 cup filtered water
INSTRUCTIONS
Soak 3/4 cup of raw cashews overnight (a minimum of 8 hours). Alternatively, for a quicker option place the cashews into a bowl and add boiling water to cover. Let soak for 1 hour.
Drain and rinse the cashews.
Add cashews to a high-speed blender along with 1 cup filtered water. Blend until smooth.
Pumpkin Spiced Butternut Squash Seeds
INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup butternut squash seeds
1/2 tsp neutral oil - I used avocado oil
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (DIY spice blend recipe)
1/8 - 1/4 tsp sea salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with unbleached parchment paper.
Clean butternut squash seeds and pat dry. Place squash seeds in a small bowl.
Add oil and stir to coat. Sprinkle salt and pumpkin pie spice, stir to coat.
Spread the seeds evenly on a baking sheet so that they are not touching.
Roast in your preheated until nice and crunchy. This will take about 7 to 10 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes. Watch the seeds carefully to ensure that they do not burn!
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @avraepstein on Instagram and hashtag it #lovewildlivefree!
The dinnerware pictured are by Fable - a sustainable, Certified B Corporation that uses non-toxic materials. Use code LOVE10 for 10% OFF fablehome.co!
If you make this recipe let me know what you think by leaving a comment! I'd love to see if you share this recipe on socials - tag me when you share on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter so that I can see and share your creations. Sharing my content really helps me and I am truly grateful for any support!
Much love,
Avra
#lovewildlivefree
Save my Recipe on Pinterest!
This is not a sponsored post. The Amazon links provided are affiliate links, which means that if you visit Amazon through these links and purchase product, I’ll get a commission. Don’t worry – the price doesn't increase if you use my link - you'll receive a discount while helping to support the free content that I share.
To work with Avra and Love Wild Live Free on collaborations, reviews, and sponsored posts please get in touch on the Contact page!