Curried Butternut Squash Bisque

From EatingWell: November/December 1992 — Subscribe Now!

This exotic, spicy soup takes advantage of the affinity between butternut squash and curry. Pureed squash has a velvety texture, which means you can forgo using cream. We serve the soup with some nonfat yogurt for a tangy note. And if you're looking for more vitamin A in your diet, look no further: this soup gives you 200 percent of the daily recommendation.

READER'S COMMENT:

"This was excellent, but it was too thin - I think the liquid should be cut at least in half, or add more squash. I used one onion and one leek. "

8 servings, about 1 cup each

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

2 teaspoons canola oil
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup apple cider
1/2 cup white rice
2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed (about 6 cups)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
2 tablespoons nonfat milk

Preparation

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in curry and cumin and cook for 1 minute. Add broth, cider, rice and squash; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the squash is tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
Pour the mixture through a strainer set over a large bowl. Puree the solids in a food processor or blender until very smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Return the puree and liquid to the pot. Heat the soup gently and season with salt and pepper.
To serve, stir yogurt and milk in a small bowl. Ladle the soup into bowls and add a dollop of the yogurt mixture. Draw the tip of a knife or a toothpick through the yogurt to make decorative swirls.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 2, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Per serving: 153 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 4 mg cholesterol; 30 g carbohydrates; 6 g protein; 4 g fiber; 267 mg sodium; 356 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (204% daily value), Vitamin C (40% dv), Folate (16% dv).

2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 starch