I’m posting this Vegan Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger today not just because it’s delicious and easy and I want to share it with you, but because I owe my mom the recipe. A few visits ago, she and I made a double batch of this soup and we froze it up for her work lunches. She asked me to make more when we were visiting a few weeks ago and I never got around to it. Sorry mom. Here’s the recipe – wish we could whip it up together.
Cutting the peel from the butternut squash is the most challenging part of making this soup. The trick to peeling these big, awkward squashes is to cut the top and bottom ends off, so they sit flat on your cutting board. Then, with a sharp knife, start from the top of the squash and cut the peel off top to bottom along the squash’s contour (watch your fingers!). Then slice the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds (I find a grapefruit spoon works well for scooping). Once that’s done, the rest is easy.
For so few ingredients, you may be surprised at this vegan butternut squash soup’s depth of flavor. Fresh ginger adds sweetness and spice, nutmeg exhales a soft creamy scent, and sweet potato feels velvety smooth in your mouth.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
You can make this soup with chicken broth and top with sour cream, but I also recommend trying the vegan version made with vegetable broth and drizzled with cashew cream. I’ve included the simple recipe for cashew cream in the recipe notes.
Love sweet potatoes? Don’t miss this Sweet Potato Hash. And if you’re a soup lover like me, don’t miss these other big flavored, satisfying soups: Winter Squash Soup, African Peanut Soup, Caldo Verde, Albondigas Soup, Tom Kha Gai, Pasta e Fagioli!
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion cut in to 1/2 inch chunks
- 1 large butternut squash peeled and cut in to 1 1/2 inch chunks
- 1 medium sweet potato cut in to 1 1/2 inch chunks (no need to peel)
- 4 large cloves garlic smashed and peeled
- 8 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 3 inch piece fresh ginger peeled and finely grated
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg preferably freshly grated whole nutmeg on a microplane
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- cashew cream (see recipe notes) or sour cream, optional
- pumpkin seeds to taste, optional
Instructions
- Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add olive oil, onions, and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add squash, sweet potato, garlic, and broth to onion mixture and stir. Bring to boil. After 15 minutes, add ginger and stir. Cook 5 to 10 minutes more, or until the squash and sweet potato are tender.
- Time to puree the soup. If you have an immersion blender with a stainless steel shaft, you can puree the soup right away in the pot. If you're using a stand blender, wait until the soup cools a bit and then puree it in batches. Add nutmeg, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- If desired, serve with a swirl of cashew cream or sour cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds.
Kelli says
October 7, 2018 at 1:32 pmThis is the first butternut squash soup I’ve ever made. I followed the recipe exactly It turned out perfect!!! This is going to be a new fall favorite. Thank you for such a simple vegan recipe.
Marissa says
October 8, 2018 at 10:00 amThat’s wonderful, Kelli! So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for coming back to let me know.
Peggy Thompson says
December 26, 2017 at 10:35 pmYour mother sent me home with a serving of your Butternut, ginger soup and as soon as I tasted it, I knew I had to have the recipe. I made it tonight, and it was easy to make and turned out perfectly. I am in heaven, the ginger flavor is so yummy and the soup is just so creamy and smooth.
Marissa says
December 27, 2017 at 9:14 amHi Peggy! I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup enough to come home and make another batch!! It was very sweet of you to let me know. XOXO
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
December 10, 2016 at 4:32 amHi Marissa! This looks great. I usually bake squash or pumpkin whole and then the skin comes off easily. I find it so slippery otherwise!
Marissa says
December 15, 2016 at 5:27 pmThat definitely makes it easier! I’ve never made this where I’ve roasted the squash and sweet potato, but I’m going to try it next time!
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four says
December 9, 2016 at 1:36 pmLove butternut squash soup! I love the addition of ginger here too…what a lovely compliment. And your mom is so lucky she got some of this for her work lunches! Gorgeous, Marissa!
Marissa says
December 9, 2016 at 3:24 pmThank you, my sweet friend!
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
December 7, 2016 at 3:37 pmMmm…. I love butternut squash! That super creamy texture and color is just stunning! I can see why your mom wanted the recipe – it sounds out of this world! And great tip on the grapefruit spoon! I’ll have to try that next time!
Marissa says
December 9, 2016 at 3:26 pmThe grapefruit spoon makes it so much easier! Those little teeth, you know. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
December 7, 2016 at 1:23 pmI am obsessed with everything butternut squash related, especially soups! So naturally I am loving this one! I can see why your mother wanted the recipe, because it looks creamy, dreamy and wonderfully flavorful! I could go for a few big ‘ole bowls of this right about now! Cheers, dear!
P.S. Have you tried microwaving the whole squash for a minute before peeling?? It makes it a cinch to get the skin off!! <3
Marissa says
December 9, 2016 at 3:27 pmI’ve heard that microwave trick, but you want to know a secret? We don’t own a microwave…they’ve always freaked me out. #weirdo Have a wonderful weekend, sweet Chey!
Dorothy Dunton says
December 7, 2016 at 7:53 amHi Marissa! We grow butternut squash and they keep on shelves in the basement for about a year. I love squash and sweet potatoes (so long as they do NOT come into contact with marshmallows!). This is perfect as it has become quite chilly/cold here! I’m always happy with a good bowl of soup and some crusty bread!
Marissa says
December 9, 2016 at 3:29 pmHi Dorothy! I’m always learning new things from you – I had no idea they would last that long! Agreed about the marshmallows – no thanks. And I love how you think, crusty bread makes soup that much better.
Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says
December 7, 2016 at 4:47 amThis is such a lovely soup, made all the more special. I LOVE that you’ve added sweet potato here; that’s one of the best tricks I know for getting a velvety-textured squash soup. And I bet fresh ginger really takes it to the next level!
Marissa says
December 9, 2016 at 3:30 pmSweet potato is amazing isn’t it – game changer for soup. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend! xo