0 from 93 votes
Spicy Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon
I recommend butternut squash for this recipe, but other winter squashes and pumpkins work, too - except spaghetti squash, which you can't use. Many other squashes are more watery than butternut squash, so factor that in. Obviously if you want to make this vegetarian, skip the bacon and use vegetable stock.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 160 kcal
Course:
Appetizer , Soup
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 yellow or white onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 to 1/2 pound bacon or salt pork, diced (use less if it's really smoky)
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (or more to taste)
- 1 quart turkey, chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
- salt
- 2 heaping tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream (optional)
- smoked paprika (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the butter over medium-high heat and add the onions and bacon. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent. You don't want them browning. Pour in the stock, add the cayenne, squash, bay leaves and a healthy pinch of salt. You might need a little water to completely submerge the squash. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low, cover and simmer gently for an hour. Stir it once or twice in that time.
- Uncover the pot, remove the bay leaves and puree the soup, either with an immersion blender, by moving the soup to a blender or a food processor, or by pushing it through a food mill. An immersion blender will give you a slightly chunky soup, a blender the smoothest. Return the soup to the pot, put the bay leaves back in and simmer gently, uncovered, for another 15 minutes. Stir frequently to keep it from sticking on the bottom.
- Add salt to taste. Right before you serve, whisk in the sour cream or creme fraiche. Adjust the thickness of the soup - you want it to look like melted ice cream. Serve garnished with pumpkin or squash seeds and smoked paprika.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
160kcal
(8%)
Carbohydrates
22g
(7%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
16mg
(5%)
Sodium
273mg
(11%)
Potassium
632mg
(18%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
13404IU
(268%)
Vitamin C
28mg
(31%)
Calcium
69mg
(7%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 160
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 160kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 22g | 7% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 16mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 273mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 632mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 13404IU | 268% |
| Vitamin C | 28mg | 31% |
| Calcium | 69mg | 7% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.