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Persian-Style Butternut Squash Soup

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EatingWell
Persian-Style Butternut Squash Soup
Rating: 5 stars
Swap out your basic butternut squash soup for this fragrant version that includes sweet potato and a medley of spices like cinnamon, cumin, coriander and saffron. A drizzle of maple syrup and a few drops of orange water brighten the flavors, while a sprinkle of sumac adds a pop of color and a tangy edge. This healthy butternut squash soup would be a wonderful starter for your Thanksgiving meal.
active:
25 mins
total:
1 hr
Servings:
6
Persian-Style Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

Directions

Instructions Checklist
  • Grind saffron threads with a mortar and pestle to get 1/4 teaspoon ground saffron. Place the ground saffron in a small glass bowl. Add 2 tablespoons very hot (but not boiling) water. Stir, cover and set aside to steep.

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  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, until soft and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic; cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes. Add squash, sweet potato, cumin, salt, cinnamon, coriander and pepper. Stir to combine; cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 5 minutes.

  • Add 3 1/2 cups water to the pot; increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the reserved saffron water. If there is saffron clinging to the side of the bowl, drizzle in a little more water, swish it around and add it to the pot (this is precious stuff!). Stir to combine; cover and simmer until the squash and sweet potato are soft and cooked through, about 25 minutes. Taste the broth for seasoning and adjust as desired.

  • Transfer the soup to a blender and add maple syrup and orange blossom water, if using. (Start with 1 teaspoon maple syrup and just a drop or two of orange blossom water--and don't measure over the soup.) Puree until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Taste and add more syrup and orange blossom water, if desired, but keep in mind the maple syrup and orange blossom water should not overwhelm the soup. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with sumac, if desired.

Tips

Tips: Saffron adds flavor and golden color to a variety of Middle Eastern, African and European foods. Find it in the spice section of supermarkets, gourmet shops or at tienda.com. It will keep in an airtight container for several years.

Tips

The tart red berries of the Mediterranean sumac bush add fruity, sour flavor to many regional dishes. Find ground sumac in Middle Eastern markets, specialty-food shops and online.

Tips

To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
1 cup
Per Serving:
175 calories; protein 2.5g; carbohydrates 29.1g; dietary fiber 4.8g; sugars 6.4g; fat 7g; saturated fat 1g; vitamin a iu 22431.3IU; vitamin c 39.2mg; folate 53.8mcg; calcium 108.9mg; iron 1.7mg; magnesium 71.5mg; potassium 750.1mg; sodium 188mg; thiamin 0.2mg; added sugar 1g.
Exchanges:

1 1/2 starch, 1 fat, 1/2 vegetable

© Copyright 2022 EatingWell. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.eatingwell.com 08/18/2022
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© Copyright 2022 EatingWell. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.eatingwell.com 08/18/2022

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Persian-Style Butternut Squash Soup
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