Protips: This soup can be on the table in just over an hour. You can roast the squash in advance for a day or two to make things easier, and make the soup when you’re ready. Do not toss the seeds, just roast them like pumpkin seeds. They can be used as garnish or eaten as a snack.
The surprise ingredient of this recipe? Fried sage! It elevates the soup’s flavor, while the thyme guarantees all the markings of your traditional butternut squash soup. This soup is a great ‘chilly rainy day grub’. So pull up a bowl of butternut squash soup and get cozy!


- 2 2 1/2 pound size seeded butternut squash cut lengthwise
- 4 tablespoon good olive oil
- 2 diced medium celery stalks
- 2 large, thinly cut shallots
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 3 stems fresh thyme
- 1 fresh or dried bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon cut-up fresh sage leaves
- 24 whole sage leaves for embellishing
- Salt and pepper
- 1 32 ounce carton chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 ounces French bread, torn into 1/2-inch cubes to make 2 cups total
- Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place a sheet of aluminum foil in a 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan.
- Put squash halves in pan with the cut side down. Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes or until very soft when pricked with a knife. Cool slightly. Scoop out squash flesh from the shells and put in a large bowl. Throw away the shells.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 5-quart saucepot until hot. Toss in celery, shallots, and carrot and heat for 20 minutes, stirring often. Add the thyme, bay leaf, 1 tablespoon sage, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to the pot and heat for more 2 minutes.
- Stir in the broth, water, and squash. Cover the pan and cook on high to boiling. Decrease heat to low and cook for 10 minutes.
- Heat up the remaining oil a 10-inch skillet on medium-high heat until hot.
- Add the remaining whole sage leaves to the oil and fry until sage is crisp about 1 minute. Drain on paper-towel-lined plate. Toss bread cubes in skillet; heat and stir for 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on plate with sage.
- Remove and discard thyme and bay leaf. Working with a small amount of the squash mixture at a time, ladle mixture into a blender. Remove center part of blender cover to allow steam to escape. Puree the mixture. Pour mixture in original pot. Heat through on low, adding additional water until the thickness desire. Ladle soup into shallow bowls and serve with croutons and sage leaves.

About the author /
Jean FermanoJean is an avid foodie, food blogger, author, and health enthusiast. She is not shy about trying different types of food and sharing her discoveries. Jean has been featured in a popular TV Show in the Philippines, Unang Hirit, a morning news and talk show aired every weekday morning by GMA Network. Follow Jean's food adventures, all for good food and healthy living, here on Sleekly.