Spicy Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Curried Butternut Squash Soup is sure to warm you up on a cold day! It’s easy to make, subtly spiced with Thai flavors, velvety smooth, filling, and SO delicious!

This spicy soup would be a fantastic addition to your Thanksgiving or holiday menu and makes for a comforting weeknight dinner served with a side of crusty bread or cloverleaf dinner rolls for dipping.

You can easily make it ahead of time and reheat it when you are ready to serve. It lasts in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thai-inspired butternut squash soup recipe

I don’t know about you, but when the weather gets chilly, I crave warm, comfort food! However, I still want my meals to be nutrient-rich and healthy.

Today, I’m sharing a delectable Thai butternut squash soup. It has just the right balance of sweetness and spicy flavors, and it tastes like something you simmered on the stove all day long.

Butternut squash makes the soup so creamy and luscious without actually having to use any milk or heavy cream.

Roasted butternut squash soup ingredients

To make this naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian recipe you will need:

• Butternut squash – for the best butternut squash soup, you’ll want to use roasted butternut squash. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of the squash and intensifies its flavor. 
• Coconut oil – can be replaced with olive oil or avocado oil.
• Onion – white or yellow.
• Garlic
• Fresh ginger – use a microplane grater to grate it.
• Red curry paste – it can vary in spiciness depending on the brand you use. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more to your desired taste.
• Cayenne pepper – feel free to add in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes instead, or leave it out if you prefer the soup less spicy.
• Salt
• Low-sodium vegetable stock –  I used my homemade vegetable stock powder (1 1/2 teaspoon for 1 liter of water), but stock cubes are absolutely fine. If you are okay with it not being vegan, chicken broth works too.
• Your choice of garnishes – see suggestions below.

Always choose a firm squash with no blemishes, bruises, or soft spots. The skin should be dull, not glossy. The stem should be intact, and the squash should feel heavy for its size. Also, the more orange the exterior, the riper and sweeter the flesh will be.

How to make this fall soup

• Roast –start by roasting the squash until tender. There are two benefits to roasting the butternut squash: depth of flavor + no need to peel and cut into chunks. Just halve, roast, and scoop out the flesh. Easy! 🙌🏻

You can even roast the butternut squash ahead of time, let it cool, then scoop out the flesh into a bowl and refrigerate.

• Cook – sauté the onions, garlic, and ginger. Stir in the roasted butternut squash + the remaining ingredients.
• Simmer – bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Blend – use an immersion blender or a traditional blender to puree the soup until silky smooth. Just be extremely careful blending hot liquids; you don’t want the blender to be too full and make sure to leave the hole in the lid open to allow the steam to escape.
• Adjust seasoning – taste and add extra salt and/or cayenne if needed.
• Serve – pour the roasted butternut squash soup into serving bowls, garnish, and enjoy!

Topping ideas

There are so many toppings that pair well with butternut squash soup! Here are some tasty options to choose from:

• Add a splash of coconut milk on top of each bowl to swirl in for extra richness.
• Nuts and seeds: crushed peanuts, roasted almonds, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts, black and/or white sesame seeds.
• Chopped cilantro, lime wedges, red pepper flakes, and pomegranate arils.

Recipe variations

Do you want to customize this recipe? Feel free to:

• Make the soup without roasting the butternut squash. Peel the squash, remove the seeds, and chop it into chunks. Add the butternut squash at the same time as you add the vegetable stock.
• Use a slow cooker – just peel and cube the squash, and add it to the crockpot with the sautéed onions, garlic, and the rest of the ingredients. Turn it on, and you’re good to
• Replace the butternut squash with pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and/or carrots.
• Add rice, quinoa, farro, or your favorite grains. (You will need to add in extra vegetable stock and seasonings accordingly.)

Side dishes to pair with the soup

• Salad: this chopped Asian salad with peanut dressing or a fall harvest salad with apple cider vinaigrette
• Roasted vegetables: such as roasted balsamic Brussels sprouts or roasted cauliflower.
• Bread: perfect for dipping! A baguette, crackers, or focaccia.

Make-ahead and storage tips

Leftovers – let the soup cool completely, then refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave in 30-second increments until hot. The soup may thicken a bit after being refrigerated, if it is still too thick after reheating, just add in a little water to thin it out to the consistency that you like.

Freeze – make a double batch and keep some on hand for those busy weeknights. Cool completely, transfer to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Make-ahead – You can either make the entire soup ahead of time or you can roast the butternut squash ahead of time, allow it to cool to room temperature, and then store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

This healthy roasted butternut squash soup is a great recipe for meal prep. Just place it in meal-prep containers and freeze it.

More soup recipes you might like

Looking for more healthy and comforting soup recipes for the season?  Here are a few more of my favorites:

• Ginger and Turmeric Carrot Soup
• Roasted Pumpkin Apple Soup
• Healthy & Creamy Cauliflower Soup
• Creamy Broccoli White Bean Soup

What’s your go-to fall soup?

If you make this easy recipe, please leave a feedback and rating in the comment below. I always love hearing how it turns out for you! ♡