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Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 6, 2019

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup

Ingredients

4 ounces pancetta, cut into ½-inch pieces2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped1 onion, chopped fine3 garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon table salt ½ teaspoon pepper 4 cups chicken broth 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Before You Begin

Buy a 4-ounce hunk of pancetta from the deli counter, not the presliced variety.

Instructions

  1. Cook pancetta in Dutch oven over medium heat until browned and crispy, about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towel–lined plate.
  2. Add squash, bell pepper, onion, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper to fat left in pot and cook over medium-high heat until onion is softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in broth and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Cook, covered, until squash is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove pot from heat.
  3. Working with 2 cups at a time, process soup in blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer pureed soup to saucepan. Stir in vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, sprinkling individual portions with chives and pancetta.
Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Elle Simone.

Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 ounces pancetta, cut into ½-inch pieces
2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
1 onion, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon pepper
4 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Ingredients

4 ounces pancetta, cut into ½-inch pieces
2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
1 onion, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon pepper
4 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Ingredients

4 ounces pancetta, cut into ½-inch pieces
2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
1 onion, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon pepper
4 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Why This Recipe Works

Cooking the vegetables in the rendered pancetta fat adds depth of flavor to the soup.

Before You Begin

Buy a 4-ounce hunk of pancetta from the deli counter, not the presliced variety.

Instructions

  1. Cook pancetta in Dutch oven over medium heat until browned and crispy, about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towel–lined plate.
  2. Add squash, bell pepper, onion, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper to fat left in pot and cook over medium-high heat until onion is softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in broth and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Cook, covered, until squash is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove pot from heat.
  3. Working with 2 cups at a time, process soup in blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer pureed soup to saucepan. Stir in vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, sprinkling individual portions with chives and pancetta.

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