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Butternut Bisque

Harvest time brings some of Mother Nature's greatest gifts in abundance. If you've ever grown squash, you know how sweet and delicious a fresh-picked butternut can be. And when the temperatures start dropping, there's nothing better than a piping-hot bowl of butternut squash bisque to warm your bones. This recipe calls for roasting the squash, which adds extra sweet nuttiness to the bisque, as well as Madras curry powder, which adds robust warming spice to the creamy soup. But the star ingredient here is roasted banana, which adds sweetness and caramel notes without imparting a fruity flavor. Garnished with plain Greek yogurt and a good squeeze of lime, and you have a soup that will warm your very soul to the core.

  • Servings 4
  • Dish Starter
  • Time 15 minutes
  • Skill Advanced

Ingredients

Butternut Bisque ingredients

1 2-pound butternut squash, peeled, halved lengthwise and seeded
1 large banana, or 2 small bananas
1 large onion
1 large carrot
2 stalks celery
3 cloves garlic
2 tsps turmeric
1½ tsps Madras curry powder
1 tsp ground coriander
4 cups (1 qt) vegetable or chicken broth
1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
Olive oil, as needed
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup Plain Greek yogurt, for garnish (optional)
Lime wedges, for garnish

Parts

Butternut Bisque

Step

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step

Cube the squash into even-sized 1”-2” pieces. Toss the cubed squash with oil, salt, and pepper and place on the baking sheet. Peel and chop the banana into large chunks, add to one end of the baking sheet.

Step

Roast the squash and banana until the squash is tender and the banana is caramelized on the bottom, about 20 minutes. If the banana is getting too brown remove it and reverse it as the squash continues to bake.

Step

While the squash roasts, prep your remaining ingredients: chop the onion, carrot, and celery. Mince the garlic.

Step

To a large pot on medium heat, add a drizzle of oil and then add the onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté until aromatic and softened, about 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.

Step

Add the roasted squash and banana to the pot, then add the turmeric, curry powder, coriander, salt, and pepper. Stir constantly and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the spices are very fragrant.

Step

Add the broth and coconut milk to the pot. Bring the liquid to a boil then lower to a simmer. Simmer the bisque for 30-40 minutes, then blend with an immersion blender or blender until very smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step

Add the broth and coconut milk to the pot. Bring the liquid to a boil then lower to a simmer. Simmer the bisque for 30 minutes, then blend with an immersion blender until very smooth. Alternatively, working in batches, use a blender to blend until smooth, and add the bisque back to the pot. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step

Rewarm over medium heat if needed, then serve the bisque with a squeeze of lime juice and a dollop of plain yogurt if desired. Bisque will keep for up to 1 week in the fridge or for up to 3 months in the freezer.