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Squash and Lentil Soup with Fresh Herbs

Print Recipe
Creamy and Hearty Squash Soup topped with fresh herbs
Course dinner, Lunch, Soup
Cuisine American, French
Keyword fall soup, lentil soup, squash and lentil soup, squash soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil plus more for drizzling
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin (optional)
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 lbs peeled and chopped butternut squash can also use kabocha or acorn
  • 1 ½ cups yellow or red lentils
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp better than bullion paste (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp sherry vinegar for finishing
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped mixed herbs such cilantro, dill, chives and/or scallion

Instructions

  • Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and starting to get a little color, 8–10 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to medium and add cumin and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to bloom the spices a bit in the fat, 90 seconds or so. Add the squash and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring every now and then, until the squash starts to fall apart (it should look like a very coarse mash), 15–20 minutes.
  • Add lentils, broth, bullion paste and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, letting the squash melt into the broth as the lentils become tender and follow suit (by also melting into the broth), 30–35 minutes. The soup should be split-pea soup in texture, not entirely smooth (this isn’t a puree), but creamy with bits of squash here and there. If it feels watery or too thin for your soup preference, continue simmering until you’ve reached the texture that’s pleasing to you.
  • To serve, add the vinegar, ladle into each bowl and divide herbs among, stirring to let them wilt into the soup a little (which will really perk up the aroma, especially if using a mix of dill and cilantro like I would). Drizzle with a bit of olive oil, maybe a grind or two of pepper or chili flake. While it is creamy enough for me, if you want to spoon yogurt, sour cream, labne or creme fraiche over top, you can—I know some of you will anyway!

Notes

This soup freezes beautifully (without herbs) and comes from the genius of Alison Roman - her site here: https://www.alisoneroman.com/recipes/squash-soup-with-lentils-and-herbs/