Name: Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 (3 to 3 1/2-pound) butternut squash -; 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, or to taste -; 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided -; 6 bushy sprigs fresh thyme, divided -; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil -; 1 large yellow onion, chopped -; 3 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced -; 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced (about 1 cup) -; 2 bay leaves -; 1 (13.5-ounce) can light coconut milk -; 1 cup water, plus more as needed -; 1 tablespoon lemon juice -; 1 to 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, to taste -; Optional garnishes: homemade croutons , fresh thyme, coconut milk, cayenne pepper and/or black pepper -

Ingredients for - Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

1. 1 (3 to 3 1/2-pound) butternut squash

2. 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, or to taste

3. 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

4. 6 bushy sprigs fresh thyme, divided

5. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

6. 1 large yellow onion, chopped

7. 3 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced

8. 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)

9. 2 bay leaves

10. 1 (13.5-ounce) can light coconut milk

11. 1 cup water, plus more as needed

12. 1 tablespoon lemon juice

13. 1 to 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, to taste

14. Optional garnishes: homemade croutons , fresh thyme, coconut milk, cayenne pepper and/or black pepper

How to cook deliciously - Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

1 . Stage

Prep and roast the squash: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment. Cut off the squash stem. Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Season the interior of the squash with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Press 1 sprig of thyme on top of the seeds in the cavity of each squash half. Lay the squash cut-side-down on the sheet pan. Roast until the skin begins to wrinkle and turn brown and you can easily slide a paring knife into the squash in a few places, about 1 hour. Let the squash sit until cool enough to handle.

2 . Stage

While the squash roasts, make the soup base: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, 4 sprigs of thyme, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Sauté until the onion is very tender and translucent and the carrot is nearly tender, 7 to 10 minutes. If the onion begins to brown, drop the heat a bit. You don’t want the vegetables to brown. Add the coconut milk and water. Adjust the heat so the liquid simmers. Simmer for about 10 minutes to infuse the flavors into the broth. Remove from the heat and use tongs to pluck out and discard the thyme and bay leaves (don’t worry about removing any tiny thyme leaves that drifted into the broth).

3 . Stage

Scoop out the squash: Use a soup spoon to scoop the seeds and stringy bits from the cavity of the squash halves and discard. Remove the peel and discard (you may need the assistance of a sharp knife to help cut away the peel).

4 . Stage

Blend and serve: Add the lemon juice, maple syrup, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste) to the pot. If using a standard blender, transfer the roasted squash and coconut broth to the blender. If using an immersion blender, put the squash into the pot with the broth. Blend until very creamy and smooth with no visible bits of vegetables. If the soup is too thick, add more water as needed and blend again. Taste, adding more salt and/or pepper as desired. Ladle the soup into bowls, add any favorite garnishes, and serve warm. Store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Love the recipe? Leave us stars below!