Butternut Squash Soup with Kale is a comforting recipe to warm you up on chilly fall and winter days.
This recipe comes from this book: FutureChefs: Recipes by Tomorrow’s Cooks Across the Nation and the World. My own son is featured in the book. As I was reading through the book, I discovered that there was another teenage boy in our town who was ALSO featured in the book. How totally random and coincidental is that?! He’s 15-year old Karthik Rohatgi, and this is the recipe that he shares in the book. It’s a beautifully silky, smooth butternut squash soup with plenty of fresh kale added in.
In the book, each child sharing a recipe has a profile highlighting what they’ve been doing in the world of food. Karthik Rohatgi launched Farm Fresh For Kids (FFFK) in Reno, NV. Farm Fresh for Kids aims to combat obesity by helping economically disadvantaged families consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, while also supporting local farmers. Isn’t it refreshing to learn that there are youth in our cities who care about what they see, recognize need and are willing to take the time and do something about it? There are many stories just like this behind the kids who are featured in this book. It’s a great book to share with your children… giving them examples of what they can do in their own communities.
Butternut squash soup is one of those soups that I absolutely love to have for dinner in the chilly season. Of course, it warms you up, but it also acts as a very filling but light meal. I’m crazy about kale, so the addition of several handfuls of kale in this soup works for me.
My son isn’t as into vegetables as I’d like him to be, but he happily gave this soup a try and he gobbled up every bite (even the kale!)
*Note: the photos show some fresh kale floating in the soup as “garnish,” but there is plenty of well-cooked kale included within the soup itself!
The Best Butternut Squash Soup Recipes:
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Apples and Garam Masala
- Butternut Squash Soup with Fresh Herbs and White Beans
- Carrot and Butternut Squash Soup
- Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup
Butternut Squash Soup with Kale
Ingredients
- 1 medium (about 5 cups) butternut squash
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 5 or 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 6 cups vegetable stock
- 12 cups baby kale, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Halve the butternut squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and any loose fiber. Lightly coat the cut faces with the softened butter. Place cut-side-down on the baking sheet and bake until a knife goes through the skin easily, 1 hour to 1 hour, 30 minutes. Let the squash cool completely, then scoop out the flesh and set aside. Discard the skin.
- In a large, deep saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme and parsley and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Slowly add 2 cups of the stock, stirring constantly. Add the baked butternut squash and stir well. Stir in the remaining stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Use a hand blender to puree the soup in the pan until it's smooth. (Alternatively, in batches, puree the soup in a blender or food processor and then return to the pan.)
- Return the soup to medium heat and bring to a boil. Add the kale, salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer until the kale is tender, 5 o 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
- If you are preparing this recipe as GLUTEN-FREE, just be sure to use a brand of vegetable stock that is known to be GF. Also, use your favorite thickening replacement for the all purpose flour- use tapioca flour or something similar.
- Add a little more sugar if you'd like to sweeten it up a bit more.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love this soup! And the kale is a great addition! That book sounds pretty awesome!
This looks amazing! I almost bought a butternut squash from the grocery but didn’t know exactly how to prepare (I heard they’re ridiculously difficult to peel when uncooked)! Thank you for sharing!
I have a butternut squash sitting in my pantry right now. This soup looks great and so comforting.
As someone who has two huge wheelbarrows of winter squash from the garden this year, anything with squash in the title catches my eye! And I have roughly a ton of kale as well – I think I know what we’re having for dinner. And I love the idea of this cookbook – I think my grandkids may find a copy under the Christmas tree this year 🙂
Butternut squash soup is one of my favorite things, and this sounds so delicious with the kale! And that’s so funny that this recipe comes from a boy from your town — so nice of you to make it and share it!
This soup looks so good, perfect for this time of year. And so awesome about your son, wow!!
Sounds like a yummy soup!
I just learned that 20% of the dogs named Kale live in Seattle. I just felt that it was marginally appropriate so I thought I’d share.
This soup looks awesome. The Whole Foods near me sells something similar for a ridiculous price so it would be nice to make my own!
Butternut Squash soup is one of my favorites on a chilly night too, something so comforting and creamy about it! Love that you added kale to this for a extra punch of nutrients!
SO cool that your son was featured in that cookbook, how awesome!
Squash and kale are always great and in soup, perfect. It looks so hearty and comforting yet light enough – perfect balance!