Beet, Butternut Squash, and Apple Soup

I decided to play around with a beautiful butternut squash, beets and apples that I had at home with delicious results. I’ve made butternut squash soup many times before, but the subtle flavor of the beets and zing of the apple were a really nice touch. I paired this soup with a tangy cashew sour cream, but this is of course optional, yet highly recommended!

Beet, Butternut Squash, and Apple Soup [Vegan]

Ingredients

Soup:

• 2 teaspoons coconut or olive oil
• half of a large Butternut Squash
• 2 large beets
• 2 small onions or leeks
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cups of Vegetable broth
• 1 large apple
• handful of pine nuts (or pumpkin seeds or any other nuts) for garnish
• salt and pepper

Cashew Sour Cream:

• ½ half cup raw cashews
• juice of small lemon
• 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
• ½ cup water

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Brush with either a teaspoon of olive or coconut oil (I used coconut, it made my kitchen smell yummy). Place one half of squash side down and roast for approximately 25-30 min or until you are able to pierce with fork with no resistance.
3. Cut beets in half, brush with oil and add to the oven 15 min before squash is done.
4. In a pot, sautee garlic, 2 small onions or leek (I used 1 onion and one leek) in a Tablespoon of olive oil until slightly translucent, then add veggie broth and salt and pepper.
5. Once squash and beets are done roasting, let them cool for a few minutes. Peel the beets and cut them into 2 inch pieces and add to soup. Scoop out the squash and place into soup, and cut apple into small slices and place in soup as well. Let simmer for about 8-10 minutes or until apples are slightly soft. Use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree soup.
6. While simmering, toast the pine nuts- heat small skillet and add pine nuts (without oil) and toast until slightly fragrant.
7. For the cashew cream, soak cashews for at least 4 hours or overnight. Rinse and add to blender along with all other ingredients, blend until smooth.
8. Garnish soup with toasted nuts and dribble sour cream!

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/beet-butternut-squash-and-apple-soup/