My best friend once said this was the best thing she’d ever eaten. So I gave her the benefit of the doubt and recreated this soup, writing down the recipe as I went along. It’s easy to make, and has only a few ingredients, but don’t be fooled; this luscious soup draws from the pure, vibrant flavours of butternut squash and pear, without the need of any added spices. The almond or hazelnut butter, while optional, is definitely worth the purchase, adding a subtle background flavour and making this soup extra creamy.
Pear-Butternut Soup
Serves six
Prep time 10 minutes, cook time 65 minutes
Ingredients
1 butternut squash, halved lengthwise
Olive oil
Salt
1 onion, medium dice
1 tbsp olive oil
2 small to medium pears (I prefer Anjou) cut into ¾ inch cubes
½ tsp salt (add more to taste)
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup white wine (optional)
3 cups vegetable stock
1 tsp honey
2 ½ tbsp almond or hazelnut butter (optional)
Pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 375° F.
Scoop seeds and pulp out of each half of the squash. Rub with olive oil, sprinkle lightly with salt, and place cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast for approximately 45 minutes or until very tender. Let cool slightly, remove the skin, and break the squash into large chunks; it should fall apart easily.
Once the squash is done or almost there, heat the olive oil in a large pot and sauté the onion on medium heat for approximately five minutes or until translucent. Add the pear and the salt and continue to sauté until the pear is tender and the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and sauté for one more minute. Now add the white wine, if using, and the vegetable stock. Add the chunks of squash and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for five to 10 minutes, or until the pear is very tender. Now carefully blend the soup (using a hand blender is best) until smooth. Add water if the soup is thicker than you would like. Now add the teaspoon of honey and the almond/hazelnut butter, if using. Add pepper to taste, and more salt if desired.