Cranberry Butternut Squash Soup

O, the excitement of my new kitchen continues…I’ve been busy whipping up hearty harvest recipes this week and last night I created a savory butternut squash soup with an extra kick of fresh cranberries from the local market.

This tasty winter squash is quite similar to a pumpkin, yet it has more of a nutty, sweet bite.  Not only is butternut squash deliciously hearty, it’s a nutritional powerhouse full of vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C, potassium, thiamine, vitamin B6, calcium, niacin and three hefty grams of fiber per cup.

My butternut squash soup is quick and easy to whip up; simply seed and cube the squash, add it to the spices, cranberries, flax seeds and harvest root veggies,; simmer, then transfer into your handy-dandy blender and puree until smooth.  As in this recipe, I often choose incorporate ground flax seeds, which add an additional nutty flavor and are a great thickener for my soups and stews.

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• ½ cup cranberries
• 2 large carrots, shredded
• 2 large parsnips, shredded
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 Tbsp. rosemary, finely crushed
• ½ tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. curry powder
• ¼ tsp. cumin
• 2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
• Sea salt and crushed white pepper, to taste
• Toppings: Greek plain yogurt and fresh basil leaves

Directions

• Seed and cube the butternut squash.
• In a large pot, combine chicken broth along with cranberries and root veggies: onion, carrots, parsnips and garlic.   Add cinnamon, curry powder, cumin, ground flax seeds and sea salt and crushed white pepper; cook over medium heat for 30-40 minutes or until squash is tender.
• Lower heat to a simmer; cook for an additional 15-20 minutes.
• Transfer soup mixture to a blender; puree until smooth.
• Serve warm with a dollop of Greek yogurt and freshly chopped basil leaves.
• Enjoy.

Here are a few news clips in the Nutrition/Health field that I’ve come across within the last week and thought I’d share with all of you:

Food Cos. Dropping Smart Choices Labeling

Loose Weight By Eating More

Are Artificial Sweeteners Really That Bad For You?

Tighter Belts Mean Thicker Waists

Tagged as: basil, butternut squash, carrots, cinnamon, cranberries, cumin, curry powder, flax seeds, garlic, Greek yogurt, onion, parsnips, sea salt, soup, white pepper