Butternut Squash Soup, Beetroot Tarka, Crispy Sage and Cinnamon Crumble
Packed with spices and topped with a drizzle of beetroot tarka and a crunchy cinnamon crumble, this budget-friendly butternut squash soup is the perfect starter for a plant-based festive dinner.
Introduction
Is there anything better than a warming squash soup? Yes, in fact, this squash soup, drizzled with a spiced beetroot tarka, topped with crispy sage and cinnamon crumble, is even better! Keeping frozen butternut squash on hand means less waste, but also can be made in a flash. You can make the cinnamon croutons in advance with any bread past its prime and keep any leftovers for sprinkling over salads and pastas.
Ingredients
| For the soup: | |
|---|---|
| 2 tbsp | oil |
| 2 | onions, diced |
| Pinch of | salt |
| 25g | fresh ginger, grated |
| 3 cloves | garlic, roughly chopped |
| 1 tbsp | fresh thyme |
| 1 tsp | caraway seeds |
| 2 bags (1kg) | frozen butternut squash, defrosted |
| 1-2 litres | vegetable stock (1l will create a creamier soup) |
| 4 tbsp | vegan creme fraiche, I'm using a plant-based version |
| For the crispy sage: | |
| 2 tbsp | butter |
| 2 tbsp | olive oil |
| 1 bunch | sage |
| For the cinnamon crumble: | |
| 500g | bread, preferably stale or leftover |
| 2 tbsp | olive oil |
| 1 tbsp | cinnamon |
| Pinch of | salt |
| For the beetroot tarka: | |
| 2 tbsp | butter |
| 1 tbsp | olive oil |
| 1 clove of | garlic |
| 1 | onion |
| 1 tbsp | fresh ginger |
| 1 tsp | cumin seeds |
| ¼ tsp | red chilli flakes |
| 1 tsp | caraway seeds |
| 250g | pre-cooked beetroots, diced |
| 1 | lemon, zest only |
| To serve: | |
| A squeeze of | lemon |
Essential kit
You will need: a stick blender or blender.
Method
Make the soup base:
To a large saucepan on a medium heat add 2 tbsp oil and once warm add the onions. Add a big pinch of salt and gently fry for 8-10 mins, until softened.
Add the ginger, garlic, thyme and 1 tsp caraway seeds, stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes. Add the defrosted butternut squash and veg stock, stir to combine. Bring to a boil then simmer for 5 minutes. Add the creme fraiche and with a stick blender or blender, blitz until smooth.
Make the crispy sage:
Add 2 tbsp of butter to a frying pan and 2 tbsp of olive oil over a medium heat. Once melted, add the sage leaves and fry until crispy, about 2 minutes. Flip the leaves and cook for a further 2 minutes. Remove the leaves and place on a paper towel, set aside. Keep the leftover butter and oil for the cinnamon croutons.
Make the cinnamon crumble:
Blitz the bread into breadcrumbs. Add 2 tbsp oil to the frying pan over medium heat then add the breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp cinnamon and pinch of salt. Occasionally stirring, fry the breadcrumbs until fragrant and crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and tip into a bowl to serve later.
Make the beetroot tarka:
Add 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp oil to the same frying pan over medium heat once warm, add 1 onion, garlic, 1 tbsp fresh ginger, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp caraway seeds, ¼ tsp red chilli flakes, fry for 2 minutes often stirring, Add the diced beetroot and lemon zest, stir to combine and fry for another 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
To serve:
Pour or ladle the butternut squash soup to a bowl with a light squeeze of lemon juice, add a spoonful of the beetroot tarka, a few crispy sage leaves and cinnamon crumble.
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