Velvety smooth and naturally sweet, this Hubbard Squash Soup is perfect for the fall season! Fresh and healthy, there's no cream in this squash soup. It's easy to make and has a natural hazelnut flavor. This is autumn bliss in a bowl!
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I use to be a part of a lunch co-op at my office where each of us would come up with a wide range of recipes to share with our group. We ended up getting some amazing recipes, like this Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole. At our October lunch co-op, one of our members brought in this hubbard squash soup. It's fall...it made sense and as we all sat down to eat, we were astonished at how amazing it tasted.
I asked him for the recipe and he said, "I have no idea what I did! I started out following some girl's recipe for butternut squash with rice balls and then it got weird with the rice ball stuff...so I just started making my own version with a hubbard squash and BAM...we ended up with a really good squash soup!"
Isn't that how it always works? The best recipes just happen!
ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
1. Healthy and delicious, this soup is super easy to make.
2. It's the perfect fall recipe and is full of just enough spice.
3. Perfect for lunch or with dinner, this soup is light and comforting.
4. It stores well in the refrigerator and heats up beautifully in the microwave or stovetop!
🤷 What is Hubbard Squash?
There's actually 3 types of hubbard squash. Blue, Golden, and Green.
Blue hubbard squash is a winter squash and tastes sweet, like a sweet potato, and has a natural nutty taste, similar to hazelnut. They can grow to be large and have a light blue shell that is extremely hard and not edible like most summer squash. When cut open, it has a deep orange colored flesh. It can be really hard to find. I've never seen one in a grocery store, but I have seen them in Sprouts and Whole Foods in October and November. When you spot one, snatch it up because it's the best for this soup recipe. It's my go-to squash for making soups.
Golden hubbard squash has a hard orange shell and is shaped more like a teardrop. It's the sweetest tasting of the hubbard squashes. Most people use this type for canning or decorating for the fall season.
Green hubbard squash is the most commonly found in the hubbard family. The shell has a deep green color. The flesh is more of an orange-yellow color and is great for roasting.
🛒Ingredients You'll Need
If you can find a blue hubbard squash, use it in this recipe. If not, use a green hubbard squash. I baste the inside of the squash with extra-virgin olive oil for the perfect roast before pureing. While you can use salted butter, unsalted is my preference so that I can control the flavor of the salt. White rice flour is used a the thickening agent and it also provides a sweet taste. And the ground nutmeg...that's what gives off that wonderful Autumn flavor.
📋 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
Start by preheating the oven to 400°F. Using a sharp knife, cut the squash horizontally. Be really careful when you do this because the shell is very hard. Once cut, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Expert Tip: You can discard the seeds or use them in recipes for homemade broth or this butternut squash soup.
Pour 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in a small bowl and liberally brush the oil onto the flesh of both pieces. Sprinkle on salt and pepper for added flavor.
Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and place both of the squash flesh side up. Roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the flesh is soft. By the way, your house is about to smell really amazing!
When it has finished roasting, take an ice cream scoop or a large spoon and scoop out the roasted squash. Place in a blender or food processor. After roasting, I had about 3 cups of squash after I was finished scooping. From there, slowly add a cup of water to your blender or food processor and puree until the consistency is soft and silky. Expert Tip: the consistency should be a little liquidy after the puree.
Once the squash has been pureed, move the mixture to a large pot. The stove-top cooking temperature should be set to medium-high. Add the rice flour, 2 more cups of water, salt, pepper, butter, and ground nutmeg. Stir until well combined.
Cook the soup until it comes to a rolling boil. Turn down the burner to medium heat once it reaches a rolling boil. Let the soup simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring as needed. Add more salt and pepper as needed to taste. You are now ready to serve.
Try topping this soup with brown sugar. I typically add a teaspoon on top so it can melt down into the soup. You can also top this soup with roasted pumpkin seeds, scallions, sour cream, and fresh cranberries.
💭 Expert Tips
- Blue hubbard squash is by far the best to use for this soup, but if you can't find any type of hubbard squash, use a butternut squash for this recipe. Kabocha, also called Japanese Squash, is also a great to substitute.
- Hubbard squash can be hard to find, but I've been successful finding them in Sprouts and Whole Foods. I've never seen one in my local grocery store, but if you talk to your local grocer and put in a request, they can typically place an order for you.
- To make a vegan version, substitute regular butter for vegan butter.
- My Quick Peppery Cheese Bread is absolute heaven with this squash soup recipe. It's full of savory cheese and black pepper and pairs perfectly with a bowl of this delicious comforting soup.
🍲 More Delicious Soups To Try
Regardless if it's soup season, I have a collection of soup recipes you need to try! My Autumn Vegetable and Black Bean Soup is made with my favorite vegetables that include carrots, celery, tomatoes, and red bell pepper and is slowly simmered in a tomato chicken based broth. And you just can't go wrong with a creamy roasted tomato soup, either!
This Kale and Leek Soup is super nutritious and easy to make. Savory and delicious, this one is perfect for lunch or a snack. Speaking of savory, this Asian Chicken Noodle Soup is hearty and authentic. This is one of those recipes that stands out and quickly becomes a crowd favorite.
Hubbard Squash Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Hubbard squash
- 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons rice flour
- 3 cups water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 Tablespoon butter, unsalted
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Start by cutting the squash horizontally. Once it’s cut, scoop out the seeds and pulp and discard.
- Brush 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil onto the flesh of both sides of the squash until lightly covered. Sprinkle on salt and pepper lightly to season.
- On a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper, place the squash flesh side up. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until the flesh is soft.
- When done, take a large spoon or ice cream scoop and scoop out the squash. Place in a blender or food processor. NOTE: I had about 3 cups of squash after I was finished scooping.
- Slowly add a cup of water to the blender/food processor and puree. The consistency should be liquidy after the puree.
- Move the mixture to a large pot. Set the stovetop temperature to medium-high. Add in the rice flour, 2 more cups of water, salt, pepper, butter, and ground nutmeg. Cook the soup until it comes to a rolling boil. Turn down the burner to medium heat once it reaches a rolling boil.
- Let the soup simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more salt and pepper as needed for flavor.
- Top with sour cream, scallions, pumpkin seeds, or fresh cranberries. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Blue hubbard squash is by far the best to use for this soup, but if you can't find a one use a butternut squash for this recipe. Kabocha, also called Japanese Squash, is also a great substitute.
- Hubbard squash can be hard to find, but I've been successful finding them in Sprouts and Whole Foods. I've never seen one in my local grocery store, but if you talk to your local grocer and put in a request, they can typically place an order for you.
- To make a vegan version, substitute regular butter for vegan butter.
- You can discard the seeds or use them in recipes for homemade broth or this butternut squash soup.
- My Quick Peppery Cheese Bread is absolute heaven with this recipe. It's full of savory cheese and black pepper and pairs perfectly with a bowl of this delicious comforting soup.
Jess
This looks great. I have all the ingredients on hand except the rice flour. Can I substitute it for something else? It seems silly to buy a whole package of rice flour for 2 tbs. I've never used rice flour before so I don't know how different it is from other flours. Let me know, thanks!
Amanda Mason
Yep! You can skip the rice flour and use a regular flour.
Ann
I enjoy staying inside, bundled up with a warm soup. And this one is totally delicious. Tastes like heaven. Even my picky kids love it. Just perfect for the fall, and the recipe is so easy to follow. I adore its warm yellow color. Definitely autumn bliss in a bowl! I like to serve this soup in mugs when I need to leave room for other plates on the table. If I’m not mistaken it can be stored for about 2 or 3 months in the freezer? Your site is wonderful Amanda! Thank you for all of the lovely recipes!
Amanda Mason
Thank you, Ann! I'm so glad you love the soup!! It's definately a wonderful fall favorite!! Yes! Absolutely you can freeze this soup for up to 3 months in the freezer!
Claire
This was such a smooth creamy soup!
The kids and I loved it with crusty bread for lunch.
I had never added nutmeg to a soup before but it was delicious 😀
Amanda Mason
Yeah! I'm so glad you guys loved it! It's one of our favorites, for sure! Thank you so much for writing in to let me know how it turned out!!
shobee
Tweaking and figuring out crecipes that fits to your dietary needs are the best kind of recipe, and this soup indeed looks so delicious.
Karen-spokane
Trying this for the first time today. I am curious as to why it should be simmered after it has been pureed. What does that do for the soup?
Amanda Mason
Hi Karen!! Simmering helps thicken the soup a bit. I can't wait to hear how you like the soup!!!
Rosanne
Squash soup and stew is great. Try princess pumpkin, crook or long neck squash they are an awesome dense flesh with best flavor and colors even mix them at times. I often have not had to use a flour and limit my liquid except to add another dimension to flavor. Be careful if flesh is hot when blending. My proNinja does better job than Cuisinart. Have fun playing with spices; cardamon, pumpkin types. I know someone that likes to use sweetened condensed milk from her grandmothers recipe.
Amanda Mason
Hi Roseanne!
Yes - I love to play with different spices in my soup recipes! That's really good info about the difference between your blenders! Thanks for sharing!!
Denise
Never tried Hubbard Squash, but this looks delicious! I will look for them now.
MJ
Also amazing if you add coconut milk...
Amanda Mason
Yes! I have not made this with coconut milk but it would be amazing! It would make it more sweet for sure though...I like the salty more savory soups!
Katherine D'Costa
So I really need to learn more about squashes apparently. The color on the soup is gorgeous. I can totally see this as the first course for a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner.
Amanda Mason
Oh thanks! Yes - this one has a really beautiful look!! And it's a perfect dish for Thanksgiving!!
Monica | Nourish & Fete
This sounds fantastic! I love finding ways to make luscious soups like this without adding cream. I've got great recipes for roasted tomato soup like this, and one with carrots and red peppers, so I can't wait to try your (Bob's!) recipe for squash!
Amanda Mason
You will love this one!!