This creamy and dreamy Roasted Feta Soup with Butternut Squash & Honey is the perfect comfort food for chilly days. The sweet butternut squash and roasted garlic are blended with a chunk of feta cheese, creating a velvety texture, while honey and sage add a touch of sweetness and earthiness. It’s an incredibly simple recipe using pantry staples, and it pairs beautifully with crispy feta toast or a grilled cheese sandwich.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 5 cups butternut squash, cubed (about 1 medium butternut squash or 2 12 oz bags of frozen butternut squash)

• ½ bulb garlic (bottom half only)

• ⅓ cup olive oil

• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

• 4 fresh sage leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried sage)

• 8 oz feta cheese chunk (Athenos recommended)

• 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)

• 2 tablespoons honey

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Prepare the Ingredients: In a Dutch oven or braising pan, add olive oil, cubed butternut squash, salt, and dried herbs (if using). Toss to coat. Place the feta block in the center of the pot, and nestle the garlic bulb (cut side down) alongside the squash.

3. Roast: Cover the pot and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the squash is tender and the garlic is soft.

4. Blend the Soup: Remove the pot from the oven. Squeeze the roasted garlic out of its skin into the pot, then add honey, vegetable broth, and fresh sage (if using). Use an immersion blender or transfer to a regular blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

5. Taste and Serve: Taste the soup and add more salt if needed. Optionally, drizzle with extra honey for added sweetness. Serve hot with crispy feta toast or your favorite side!

Nutrients

The exact nutritional information isn’t provided, but here’s an estimated breakdown per serving (for 4 servings):

• Calories: 280-320 kcal

• Protein: 7g

• Fat: 20g

  • Saturated Fat: 6g

• Carbohydrates: 24g

  • Fiber: 5g

  • Sugar: 10g

• Sodium: 500mg

• Cholesterol: 20mg

• Potassium: 750mg

This roasted feta soup is creamy, comforting, and perfect for sharing with loved ones on a cozy evening!

The Key Ingredients: Sweet, Savory, and Creamy

At the heart of this soup are just a few ingredients that bring out rich, complex flavors.

Butternut Squash:

Butternut squash is the star vegetable in this dish, providing a naturally sweet, slightly nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients. When roasted, it caramelizes slightly, enhancing its sweetness and bringing out its natural depth of flavor. Butternut squash is also packed with fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C, making it not only delicious but also healthy.

Roasted Garlic:

Garlic is roasted to bring out its mellow, caramelized flavor. Roasting garlic softens its sharpness, turning it into a sweet, nutty component that contributes to the soup’s depth and richness. When squeezed out of its skin, it adds a creamy texture to the soup, seamlessly blending into the mix.

Feta Cheese:

The feta cheese in this soup adds a tangy, creamy element that binds everything together. As it melts into the soup, it creates a rich, velvety texture that complements the sweetness of the squash and the roasted garlic. Feta also adds a touch of saltiness, which enhances the overall flavor balance of the dish. Athenos feta is recommended for its creaminess and smoothness when melted, but any good-quality feta will do.

Honey and Sage:

Honey brings a subtle sweetness that balances the earthy flavors of the squash and garlic. The sage adds an herbaceous note, contributing a hint of earthiness to the soup. Whether you use fresh or dried sage, it imparts a warm, aromatic flavor that complements the richness of the roasted ingredients. This combination of sweetness and herbs elevates the soup to a comforting and well-rounded dish.

Olive Oil and Vegetable Broth:

Olive oil is used for roasting the squash and garlic, adding richness and helping to caramelize the vegetables. Vegetable broth is the base for the soup, providing a light, flavorful liquid to bring everything together without overwhelming the delicate flavors of the squash and garlic. For added depth, you could also use chicken broth.

Cooking Method: Simple and Flavorful

Roasting:

The key to this recipe is the roasting process. Roasting the butternut squash and garlic at 400°F (200°C) helps to intensify their flavors. The squash becomes tender and caramelized, while the garlic becomes soft and sweet, providing a rich base for the soup. By roasting them together with the feta cheese, the flavors mingle and develop, ensuring that every spoonful is packed with depth.

Blending:

After roasting, the soup base is simply blended until smooth. You can use an immersion blender directly in the pot, or transfer the mixture to a regular blender. Blending the ingredients creates a creamy consistency that is luxurious and comforting. The feta cheese and roasted garlic naturally melt into the soup, creating a silky-smooth texture that is rich but not too heavy.

Simmering:

Once blended, the soup is returned to the pot and simmered with the vegetable broth and honey for a few minutes to allow the flavors to marry. This brief simmering time also ensures that the soup reaches the perfect temperature for serving.

Serving Suggestions: Perfect Pairings

While the soup is delicious on its own, pairing it with a side can elevate the meal even further. The natural sweetness of the honey and butternut squash makes the soup an excellent match for something salty and crispy. Here are a few ideas for pairing:

• Crispy Feta Toast: Top slices of toasted bread with melted feta cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. The saltiness of the feta and the crispy texture of the toast complement the creamy soup perfectly.

• Grilled Cheese Sandwich: A classic pairing that never fails, a grilled cheese sandwich with crispy bread and melted cheese pairs beautifully with the rich, creamy texture of the soup.

• Fresh Salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette can help balance the richness of the soup and add some freshness to the meal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Roasted Feta Soup with Butternut Squash & Honey is a comforting and flavorful dish that combines the natural sweetness of butternut squash, the richness of roasted garlic, and the creamy tang of feta cheese. The addition of honey and sage brings complexity and warmth, making this soup a perfect choice for cooler months or special occasions. Whether you enjoy it with crispy feta toast, a grilled cheese sandwich, or a fresh green salad, this soup is sure to satisfy your craving for something comforting and indulgent.

This simple yet elegant soup is easy to make, requires minimal ingredients, and offers a rich, creamy texture that’s perfect for sharing with loved ones. It’s a great way to warm up on a chilly day while enjoying the vibrant flavors of fall or winter.