There are so many reasons to love this Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Red Pepper! From the simple preparation to the over-the-top delicious flavor, it’s a new go-to for holiday dinners. See tips below for prepping this soup ahead of time so that it’s ready to go on busy days.
*Today I’m partnering with Sharp Home USA ~ Sharp creates quality home appliances that make life easier!
Contents
The Coziest Butternut Soup
I adore winter squashes. Roasted, sautéed, added to chili or in casseroles, they are so versatile.
As soon as September hits, you can be sure I have a collection of winter squashes in my fridge waiting to be used.
Since butternut squash has a pretty sweet flavor, I decided to complement it with the savory flavor of roasted red peppers.
What resulted was the coziest bowl of butternut squash soup ever! It’s creamy, slightly sweet, with a mild charred pepper flavor that takes it over the top.
Once you have your ingredients organized, it’s a very simple recipe! If you’re starting any holiday meals with soup this year, I highly suggest this one!
I’ve kept it dairy free using soaked cashews — read the notes if you need a nut free soup or prefer the ease of using heavy cream!
For holidays, I suggest making this the day before. The flavor just gets better after it sits. Reheat it and top it with crispy fried bacon for an extra pop of smokey flavor!
Adore winter soups? Also try this flavorful Winter Root Vegetable Soup and this soul-warming Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup.
I used my Sharp European Convection Oven and Sharp Induction Cooktop to make this soup.
Roasting the vegetables in the oven gives them the sweetest, deepest flavor, with a slight smokey char.
Once the vegetables are roasted, they are simmered on the Induction Cooktop along with the onions and garlic. I love how sleek these two appliances are, and use them to perfect so many of my recipes.
In the winter, I love having dinner parties where I serve a variety of soups. The warming setting on the Induction Cooktop means I can keep the soups hot, and people can serve themselves when they are ready.
Hop on over to Sharp’s website to see if these appliances are the right fit for your dream kitchen!
What You’ll Need
- Butternut Squash (sugar pumpkin or kabocha squash also work!)
- Red Bell Peppers
- Cashews (this adds a creamy base – see notes for substitions)
- Olive Oil
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper
- Yellow Onions
- Fresh Garlic Cloves
- Vegetable Broth (or sub chicken broth or chicken stock, or use chicken bone broth for added nutrition)
- Cayenne Pepper (or add more heat with your favorite hot sauce)
Optional Toppings
Top this velvety soup with toppings to add some texture contrasts!
- Crispy Fried Sage
- Crispy Bacon
- Hot Sauce (I love Cholula on this soup!)
- Green Onions
- Italian Parsley or Cilantro
- Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
- Sour Cream, Crème Fraîche, or Heavy Whipping Cream
Recipe Variations
Cashew Substitutes
- Instead of cashews, add 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream into the soup at the end when seasoning it with cayenne pepper and salt.
- For an even quicker cashew cream, use 1/4 cup of cashew butter instead of soaking cashews overnight. The cashew butter can be added to the blender along with the vegetables and broth.
- A creamy coconut milk (not the beverage, but the full fat canned coconut milk) will also work, but will leave a bit of a coconut flavor. It will work in a pinch but would be my last choice out of these options! Use 1/2 cup of coconut milk in place of the cashews.
Note: Soaked cashews work best in a high powered blender. If you need are using an immersion or stick blender, opt for the cashew butter or heavy cream option.
How to Make Butternut Squash Red Pepper Soup
Prior to starting: Preheat oven to 400º F. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 1: Soak cashews in hot water for at least 30 minutes. Alternatively, soak them overnight in cold water. (skip this step if subbing heavy cream)
Step 2: Add cubed butternut squash and chopped red pepper to the sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss the vegetables to evenly coat. Roast vegetables for 30 minutes, until softened and lightly charred.
Step 3: Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add olive oil, onions, and garlic. Saute until softened, about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Add the roasted butternut squash and red peppers to the soup pot, along with the vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Add half of the soup mixture and the cashews to a blender, and process until a very smooth, creamy texture is reached. Repeat with the remaining soup mixture, and return the pureed soup to the pot.
*If using an immersion blender, do not use cashews (sub heavy cream or cashew butter, see notes). They will not blend into a cream.
Step 6: Season the soup to cayenne pepper, and addition salt and pepper, to taste.
Step 7: Garnish the soup simply with red pepper flakes, or dress it up with bacon, green onions, crispy sage, or hot sauce, as desired.
How to Store Leftover Butternut Squash Soup
Once the soup has cooled to room temperature, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat the soup, add it to a saucepan with a couple tablespoons of water, and heat over medium heat until its simmering.
Reserve any toppings and add them to when ready to serve.
Can I freeze this soup?
Yes! Because of the pureed texture, this soup is perfect for freezing. I love freezing this soup in individual portions. Pull it out in the morning to defrost and it’s ready to reheat for lunch!
FAQ
Should I peel the butternut squash before roasting it?
While it’s not necessary, I do peel the squash before roasting it. The squash skin is a bit tough, so I prefer to remove it.
However, if you’re blending this soup in a high speed blender, it will process into the mixture and be mostly undetectable.
Can I use jarred red peppers?
Yes, if you have a jar of roasted red peppers, you can use them instead of whole red bell peppers. Add the roasted red peppers to the soup when pureeing.
Alternatively, make a batch of Roasted Red Peppers to keep on hand for recipes like this and to add to sandwiches and salads!
Other Cozy Winter Soup Recipes
- Sweet Potato Roasted Red Pepper Soup Recipe
- Winter Root Vegetable Soup
- Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (Dairy Free)
- Roasted Cauliflower Soup
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Butternut Squash Red Pepper Soup
Equipment
- Sharp European Induction Cooktop
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cashews raw, (or sub 1/4 cup heavy cream, added after pureeing soup)
- 1 butternut squash peeled, de-seeded, and cubed (about 3 pounds)
- 2 red bell peppers chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon sea salt plus more to season to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 cup yellow onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Toppings
- bacon chopped, optional
- green onions chopped, optional
- cilantro chopped, optional
- fried sage optional
- hot sauce or red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º F. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Soak cashews in hot water for at least 30 minutes. Alternatively, soak them overnight in cold water. (skip this step if subbing heavy cream)
- Add cubed butternut squash and chopped red pepper to the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss the vegetables to evenly coat. Roast vegetables for 30 minutes, until softened and lightly charred.
- Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add olive oil, onions, and garlic. Saute until softened, about 10 minutes.
- Add the roasted butternut squash and red peppers to the soup pot, along with the vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for about 10 minutes.
- Add half of the soup mixture and the cashews to a blender, and process until very smooth and creamy. If using an immersion blender, do not use cashews. They will not blend into a cream. See notes for substitions. Repeat with the remaining soup mixture, and return the pureed soup to the pot.
- Season the soup with cayenne pepper, and additional salt and pepper, to taste.
- Garnish the soup simply with red pepper flakes, or dress it up with bacon, green onions, crispy sage, or hot sauce, as desired.
Ok so ai was very concerned that this recipe had zero reviews or tweaks. I had 1/2 a over cooked butternut squash. I made my roasted red bell peppers (2) with garlic powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and oregano ( I use them for veggie sandwiches). I messed up and used all the veggie broth and thought Oh no! It’s going to to be too runny. I used the immersion blender and the 1/4 cup of heavy cream. It came out really good! It wasn’t too sweet and it wasn’t too thick! We don’t like how a traditional Butternut Squash soup has a baby food texture this is thinner out version was a winner. Might have to play around with the broth ratios but other than that we would make it again.