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A recipe for a healthy and satisfying meal - this winter vegetable soup, with butternut squash and cauliflower is one to make again and again. 98 calories and 1 Weight Watchers SP

When the temperatures drop below freezing, an insatiable craving for comfort food sets in. This winter vegetable soup fits snugly into that category. Warm and nourishing, but surprisingly light. I often make a big batch of this soup and eat it for lunch throughout the week. It’s a great way to work some veggies into my mid-day meal. Cheese and crackers on the side, or a slice of rosemary olive oil bread fills me up.

There’s no need to add cream to this winter vegetable soup to make it thick and hearty. After cooking down the vegetables, simply puree a few cups of the mixture and add it back to the rest of the soup. The flavors are fantastic, rich with the sweetness of butternut squash and earthiness of cauliflower, and punched up with a shake of dried chile flakes.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR THIS WINTER VEGETABLE SOUP RECIPE:

Aromatics: This soup starts by sautéing a classic mirepoix, which is a combination of onion, carrot and celery. It provides a wonderful, savory base for any soup or stew. Garlic cloves are also thrown in for extra flavor.
Tomato paste: Just a tablespoon or two will do you! Tomato paste is made of tomatoes that have been good for hours, concentrating the flavors into a paste. It’s added near the beginning of the process, giving it a chance to cook slightly with the vegetables before adding the broth. If you can find tomato paste in a tube (I buy mine at Trader Joe’s), it makes life even easier. No need to open a new can of tomato paste, or to freeze the leftovers.
Butternut squash: You have a couple of choices. Either peel, seed and chop the butternut squash. Be sure to have a strong peeler, like this one. Alternatively, buy pre-chopped butternut squash, which is what I do when I’m feeling lazy.
Cauliflower: The cauliflower should be cut into small-ish bite-sized florets.
Vegetable broth: Use homemade or store-bought. Just be sure it’s one you like the taste of because that flavor will shine through in the soup.

Is this soup blended?

This soup is partially blended. You could certainly puree the entire soup until really smooth, like my Moroccan Carrot Soup. However, I really like the combination of the blended broth with chunks of tender cauliflower and butternut squash. The soup has a creamy texture, but you’re also surprised with bursts of flavor when you bite into one of the cooked vegetables.

How do you blend soup? Since just a portion of the soup is blended, I prefer to transfer a few cups of the mixture to a blender (affiliate link) and puree it until almost smooth. If you prefer, use an immersion blender (affiliate link) to partially blend the soup, leaving pieces of the vegetables intact.

Can vegetable soup be frozen?

This soup freezes really well. Let the soup cool completely, then divided it into airtight freezer-proof containers like this one (affiliate link), or divide it into resealable freezer bags.

If using plastic freezer bags, first seal the bags after filling, then arrange on a baking sheet. Freeze them on the baking sheet so that you’re left with flat bags of soup that are stackable. It’s a great space-saving trick to keep your freezer organized.

Is winter vegetable soup healthy?

This winter vegetable soup is packed with all sorts of nutrients. Butternut squash provides hefty doses of Vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber. Cauliflower, like many cruciferous vegetables, is high in both fiber and Vitamin B.

Add in the nutrients from the carrots, celery and garlic, and you have a soup that’s rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber.

If you're looking for other healthy cauliflower or butternut squash recipes, look no further than this Cauliflower-Crust Vegetarian Pizza, my all-time favorite Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash & Quinoa or my Roasted Cauliflower Dip (perfect vegan snack for those afternoon munchies).

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