Seven Spice Butternut Squash Soup

So, it's pretty cold outside and I felt the urge to make another soup - 'tis the season, right?

I've always loved butternut squash. It has a great sweet, nutty flavor and a nice, smooth texture. And mixed with all these spices, yum! The soup is really aromatic and just the right mix of sweet and spicy, I feel warmer just thinking about it. Not to mention, how quick and simple it is to make.


And the addition of the Smoky Chickpea Croutons make the soup even tastier. Not only are the chickpeas a wonderful addition to the soup, you can add them to so many different dishes. Throw some on a salad to spice it up, or munch on them as a healthy snack. They're bursting with fiber and protein!


Last year, I got an immersion blender as a gift from my parents and I love it so much. *Yes, of course you can use a food processor or blender to puree this soup. But let me tell you, I've done the whole pureeing the soup in a blender in batches, and it's a lot more work. You need at least 2 pots to keep the pre-pureed and post-pureed soup separated, you end up dripping some soup on the counter and you frequently burn myself.

Okay, maybe it's just me and I'm not be the most graceful at the whole pureeing-thing. I could probably get better over time, but luckily, I don't have to because I have one of the most wonderful kitchen gadgets! Seriously, everyone should own, it's not very expensive and it's simple to use. So add it to your wishlist, hint to your family/friends that you want one or buy it as a gift for yourself, you'll be happy you did!

Seven Spice Butternut Squash Soup

Yield: 4 servings | Prep time: 5 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, diced
• 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 cups cubed butternut squash (follow these directions to prepare the butternut squash)
• 2 cups broth
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. sweet curry
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. salt (or more to taste)
• 1/4 tsp. ground pepper (or more to taste)
• Smoky Chickpea Croutons (see recipe below)

Smoky Chickpea Croutons

Yield: 1 cup | Prep time: 5 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1-14oz. can chickpeas
• 1 Tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. cumin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Rinse and dry chickpeas. Place the chickpea in a medium bowl and toss with oil and spices until coated.
3. Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on your prepared baking sheet and roast until golden and crisp, about 25-30 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Serve at room temperature and store leftovers in an airtight container. 

Nutritional information per serving (1.5 cups soup, 1/4 cup chickpeas):
Calories: 342
Total fat: 8 grams
Carbohydrates: 58 grams
Fiber: 14 grams
Protein: 15 grams
Weight Watchers points: 9 points

Enjoy and thanks for reading!