Squash-a-Lunch Soup—Lunch for 4
Squash-a-Lunch Soup is a flavorful, comforting lunch dish that combines American and French culinary influences. This velvety butternut squash soup is enriched with aromatic herbs and spices, creating a satisfying meal perfect for a cozy midday break. Enjoy the warmth and nourishment of this delightful fusion recipe.
Meal Type
Lunch
Cuisine
American French Fusion
Servings
4
Food Stars
Butternut Squash, Soup
Health
Variations
Diets
Variations
Do This With That Stuff
- Peel the butternut squash using the vegetable peeler
- Cut the squash in half lengthwise with the chef’s knife on the cutting board
- Scoop out and discard seeds
- Cube the squash into 1-inch pieces
- Chop the large onion on the cutting board with the chef’s knife
- Mince 2 cloves of garlic with the chef’s knife on the cutting board
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat
- Add chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon
- Add minced garlic to the pot and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon
- Add cubed butternut squash to the pot and stir to combine with onions and garlic
- Pour in 4 cups vegetable broth into the pot
- Add 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp dried thyme, and 1 bay leaf to the pot, stirring to combine all ingredients with a wooden spoon
- Bring soup mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until squash is tender when pierced with a fork
- Remove bay leaf from soup using a wooden spoon or tongs and discard it
- Use an immersion blender to carefully blend soup until smooth (be cautious of hot splatters)
- Stir in 1 cup heavy cream into blended soup using a wooden spoon until fully incorporated
- Season soup with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting as needed
- Serve Squash-a-Lunch Soup hot
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- Add 1/2 tsp ground dandelion root
- Add 1/2 cup chopped kale
- Add 1/4 tsp ground mustard seed
- Replace 1 cup heavy cream with 3/4 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
🧂 Salty
- Increase vegetable broth to 5 cups
- Add 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Add 1 tbsp soy sauce
🍋 Sour
- Add 1/4 cup lemon juice
- Add 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- Add 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
🌶️ Spicy
- Add 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- Add 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Add 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
🍬 Sweet
- Add 1/4 cup maple syrup
- Add 1/2 cup chopped apples
- Add 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- Replace vegetable broth with 4 cups apple cider
🍄 Umami
- Add 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Add 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Replace 4 cups vegetable broth with 4 cups mushroom broth
🍸 Alcoholic
- Chardonnay: Its buttery and fruity notes complement the creaminess and sweetness of the butternut squash
- Saison: The earthy and spicy flavors of this Belgian-style ale balance the richness of the soup
- Pinot Noir: The light body and bright acidity of this red wine contrast with the soup’s creamy texture
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- Sparkling Apple Cider: The effervescence and acidity cut through the richness of the soup
- Lemon Ginger Tea: The zesty lemon and warming ginger provide a contrast to the creamy, sweet flavors of the soup
- Cranberry Juice: The tartness of cranberry juice complements the sweetness of butternut squash and adds a refreshing element
🥓 Keto
- Replace butternut squash with 1 medium zucchini, cubed
- Replace vegetable broth with 4 cups chicken broth
- Add 1/2 cup chopped celery
- Add 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
🍆 Mediterranean
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup Greek yogurt
- Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Add 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Add 1 tsp ground cumin
- Replace ground cinnamon with 1/4 tsp ground coriander
🥑 Paleo
- Replace vegetable broth with 4 cups chicken broth
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- Remove bay leaf
🐟 Pescatarian
- Add 8 oz cooked shrimp
- Add 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
🌱 Vegan
- Replace 1 cup heavy cream with 1 cup coconut cream
- Remove bay leaf
🥦 Vegetarian
- No changes needed as the recipe is already vegetarian friendly.
🥩 Whole30
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- Remove ground nutmeg
- Remove ground cinnamon
🧠 Brain Health
- Replace olive oil with 2 tbsp coconut oil
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Add 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- Add 1/2 cup chopped kale
🌾 Celiac Disease
- No changes needed
💩 Crohns Disease
- Remove garlic
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup lactose-free milk or almond milk
- Remove onion
- Add 1 cup chopped leeks (white and light green parts only)
🩸 Diabetes
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Add 1/2 cup chopped celery
- Add 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- No changes needed for gluten intolerance.
🫀 Heart Disease
- Replace 2 tbsp olive oil with 1 tbsp olive oil
- Replace 1 cup heavy cream with 1 cup low-fat milk
- Add 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
❤️ Heart Health
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup low-fat milk
- Increase olive oil to 3 tbsp
- Remove salt from seasoning
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- Replace 1 cup heavy cream with 1 cup low-fat milk
- Replace salt with a salt substitute to taste
- Decrease olive oil to 1 tbsp
🍔 High Cholesterol
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Add 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
🦠 Immune System
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup coconut milk
- Add 1/2 cup chopped kale
- Add 1/2 cup chopped spinach
- Add 1 tbsp grated ginger
- Add 1 tbsp lemon juice
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Replace onion with 1/2 cup chopped green onion tops (green part only)
- Replace garlic with 1/4 tsp garlic-infused oil
- Replace vegetable broth with 4 cups low-FODMAP vegetable broth
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup lactose-free heavy cream
💧 Kidney Disease
- Replace olive oil with 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- Replace vegetable broth with 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Remove salt from seasoning
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- Replace 1 cup heavy cream with 1 cup lactose-free milk or almond milk
- Add 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
🍺 Liver Disease
- Replace olive oil with 1 tbsp canola oil
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup low-fat milk
- Remove salt from the recipe
🤰 Pregnancy
- Replace heavy cream with 1 cup whole milk
- Add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Beti’s Reflections
Bonjour, my foodie friends! I recently stumbled upon a delightful fusion recipe that marries the best of American and French culinary influences. As I was exploring a quaint farmer’s market in the heart of Paris, I discovered this scrumptious Squash-a-Lunch Soup that instantly transported me to a cozy autumn day in New England.
Squash-a-Lunch Soup is perfect for serving four people and makes for a satisfying midday meal. This vegetarian squash soup is not only hearty but also dairy-rich, making it an ideal choice for those who crave creamy comfort food. However, if you’re on the lookout for low calorie recipes or quick meals, this might not be your cup of tea.
The star of this creamy squash soup is none other than the humble butternut squash. When combined with aromatic ingredients like onion, garlic, nutmeg, cinnamon, thyme, and bay leaf, it creates a symphony of flavors that will warm your soul. The olive oil adds richness while the vegetable broth provides a savory base. To top it all off, heavy cream gives this French-style squash soup its velvety texture.
To create this masterpiece at home, start by peeling and cubing your butternut squash. Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil before adding the squash and vegetable broth to the mix. Season with nutmeg, cinnamon, thyme, and bay leaf before letting it simmer until tender. Once cooked through, remove the bay leaf and blend until smooth using an immersion blender. Finally, stir in heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
In conclusion, Squash-a-Lunch Soup is truly a comforting creamy soup that brings together American butternut squash with French culinary flair. It’s perfect for those chilly days when you need something warm and nourishing to lift your spirits. So go ahead – indulge in this velvety vegetarian squash soup that will leave you craving more. Bon appétit, and until next time on TheKitchen.ai!
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