Fall and winter are abundant with new and exciting produce. Warm, earthy, and hearty, the fruits and vegetables of the season are comforting and versatile. Butternut squash in particular is delicious and while available year round, is at its peak in the fall and winter months.
The deep orange color of the winter squash is velvety with a nutty flavor. When butternut squash is roasted, it becomes sweeter but also plays well with savory ingredients. Savory herbs and spices, fruits, and salty meats all go well with butternut squash. Wild rice, kale chips, or simply bread all pair nicely with the comforting soup.
Butternut squash soup is about as rich and comforting as soups go, without having to add cream. Because the flesh of a butternut squash is so thick and velvety, you don’t need to add other ingredients to get a good consistency. Of course, adding a little cream just makes it all the better.
Butternut squash is savory, nutty, sweet, and earthy, lending itself to pair nicely with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Try finding something to enhance its flavor, provide texture, or that pairs well with it.
Butternut Squash Soup With Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Apples are at their peak in the fall. A crisp, tart apple makes a great flavor profile to pair with the sweet butternut squash. Apples also pair well with cheese, especially a sharp cheddar or a creamy brie. Both cheeses make for a delicious grilled cheese sandwich.
To achieve the ultimate apple grilled cheese to pair with your butternut squash soup, choose a crisp and slightly tart apple, such as a Granny Smith or honey crisp.
Wash the apple, cut it in half and core it.
Then slice the apple very thinly.
Sandwich the apple slices and cheese (honey crisp and Brie are a great combo!) in between two slices of your favorite bread.
Heat up butter in a skillet and cook your grilled cheese sandwich until crispy.
This soup and sandwich combo makes for a warm, comforting meal on a cold day.
Butternut Squash Coconut Lobster Soup
To elevate your butternut squash soup and make it a more complete meal, consider adding lobster and coconut milk to it. The coconut milk will help make a silky consistency while adding an extra depth of flavor and the lobster will add a nice richness to the soup.
Baked Parmesan Crisps
Sometimes all you need to pair with your soup is a nice crunchy element. Baked parmesan chips are an excellent choice to top your butternut squash soup with. Parmesan cheese also has a nutty flavor that pairs nicely with the slightly sweet and nutty butternut squash.
If you can’t find any at your local store, making your own parmesan chips is a breeze to do. Simply grate some fresh parmesan and make little piles on a lined sheet pan. Be sure to space each pile out to allow for the cheese to spread out. Bake in your oven until the edges are just turning brown and allow to cool.
Herb & Garlic Quinoa
Quinoa is a chewy and nutty grain that has a slight sweetness to it. It is very healthy and adds a filling element to your butternut squash soup. Use herbs that go well with both the quinoa and butternut squash, such as: thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, parsley, or a combination.
Wild Rice with Pecans
Wild rice with pecans is a warm and hearty side dish to any meal. When paired with butternut squash, it makes a filling, healthy, and delicious lunch or dinner. You could even pour the butternut squash soup directly over the wild rice and pecan to eat all together.
Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad
For a bright and fresh salad to eat with the warm and filling soup, consider a tomato cucumber and mozzarella salad. The cool refreshing and slightly acidic salad offers a nice contrast to the thick butternut squash soup.
Crispy Baked Kale Chips
Crispy baked kale chips are a great and healthy option to serve alongside butternut squash soup. The kale chips offer a nice crunch and could even be served as a crouton garnish. Making your own baked kale chips at home is a simple task and gives you a nice healthy snack option.
Start by washing and drying the kale leaves.
Tear the leaves into smaller, bite sized pieces.
Toss with olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Spread the kale leaves out onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake in a 300℉ oven for until dried and crispy.
Mushroom wild rice pilaf is a delicious and hearty side dish, or can even stand alone as a main course. Earthy mushrooms paired with the nutty wild rice pair perfectly well with butternut squash soup.
For a shortcut, get a box of wild rice from the store and follow the instructions. While the wild rice is cooking, saute sliced mushrooms in olive oil, seasoned with: salt, pepper, and thyme. Once the rice is done, stir in the mushrooms and enjoy.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon
Brussel sprouts are another great fall and winter vegetable and would pair nicely with butternut squash soup. The tiny cabbages are delicious when roasted, losing any bitterness.
The addition of crispy and fatty bacon to the brussel sprouts elevates the dish to a savory and salty masterpiece. For added color, you could toss with dried cranberries that also provide a burst of tart flavor.
Bread
When trying to find a side dish to butternut squash soup (or any soup), you can’t go wrong with bread. Whether you are serving it straight from the oven, toasted, or slathered with butter, it makes a great companion to soup. It’s a bonus when you can use the bread to soak up the soup.
Garlic Croutons
For a super simple and crunchy topping with your butternut squash soup, try your favorite garlic croutons. It can be as simple as opening a bag and sprinkling on top of your soup, or you can quickly make your own croutons.
Cube up your favorite bread (or whatever is in your pantry).
Toss the bread chunks with: oil, salt, pepper, and either fresh garlic or garlic powder.
Spread the bread out onto a lined cookie sheet.
Bake in an oven set to 325℉ until golden and crispy.
These quick homemade croutons are great to keep on hand and make a tasty addition to your next salad, soup, or snack tray.
What Flavors Pair Well With Butternut Squash Soup
Aside from menu planning a side dish to go with your butternut squash soup, it’s also good to explore some other flavors that go well with it. Knowing different flavor combinations will help you determine what you want to serve with the soup or even add to it. Let’s look at some different ideas.
The Italian cured pork, pancetta, is a delicious and salty component that pairs well with so many things, especially butternut squash soup. You can simply cook diced pancetta, being sure to render all the fat out, leaving crispy bites and add it to your bowl of butternut squash soup.
Italian Sausage
Another great protein to add to butternut squash soup is Italian sausage. The spices and garlic that is added to the pork sausage is a great contrast to the hearty and slightly sweet soup. You could either cook it in links and serve alongside the soup, or cook it loose in a skillet and add it to the bowl of butternut squash soup.
Sage
For a simple and traditional flavor profile, make butternut squash soup with the addition of sage. Either using ground or fresh sage will work just fine and will help to enhance the flavor of the butternut squash. For another burst of flavor, fry some fresh sage leaves in a little oil and serve as a garnish to the soup.
Ginger
Ginger root has a bright and peppery flavor that is intensified when heated through. Peel the skin of a fresh ginger root and mince the flesh up to cook along with the other aromatics of your soup.
Cream
Adding cream to butternut squash soup is not necessary, but it sure is tasty. When you add cream to anything, it brings a richness to it and also will help make a silky texture. You can either cook it in the soup, or pour a little directly on the top of your soup right before you serve it. Either way, it will be good.
Butternut squash soup is a warm, hearty, and earthy soup that is also slightly sweet and nutty. The thick and luxurious soup is comforting to eat and makes a great lunch, dinner, or first course.
There are so many things to eat with the butternut squash soup, depending on the meal. You could make a fun twist on the classic grilled cheese by adding apple slices, serve it with a mushroom and wild rice pilaf, kale chips, and more.
You will want flavors that will help to enhance the sweet nutty squash. Consider using ginger, sage, or garlic to perk up the butternut squash soup.
