Garlic Butternut Bisque is a perfect soup to serve as an appetizer on any holiday, especially Thanksgiving!
With Thanksgiving fast approaching and a butternut squash staring at me on the counter I knew I needed to use up, my first thought was roast it up and enjoy it for dinner. But then I participated in the Taste of Home Online cooking course I will be sharing in tomorrows post and was completely inspired to make this bisque!
Bisque sounds all fancy and typically you've probably heard of seafood bisque made with lobster. While I love lobster it's not a Thanksgiving type ingredient. Creamy soups made from roasting vegetables and pureed fruits are also called bisque's. But the idea is the same, extracting as much flavor as possible from the ingredients used to create a thick, creamier, more luscious, decadent soup.
Roasting the garlic is the key to making this bisque over the top amazing. If you don't, you'll just have a very strong, harsh, garlicky flavor in this soup. The roasted garlic adds an incredible sweetness, almost like sugar's been added it's so incredibly sweet.
I know buying fresh herbs can be expensive, especially if you live in a New England like me and the gardening season to grow your own herbs is short and fast. But don't skimp out on purchasing the fresh sage. It's just another ingredient that NEEDS to be in here. The smell alone leaves you coming in for more and tasting it you'll be happy you made the effort.
It's the perfect starter appetizer for any holiday party. Just a little ½ cup is all you need to start Thanksgiving off in a soothing, calming, relaxing way. Seriously, no joke, soup makes you slow down to enjoy every spoonful and isn't that what we should be doing on Thanksgiving, slowing down rather than rushing through the meal?
When I went to the market for the fresh sage, the all ready cut up butternut squash in a nice little package called my name and I purchased it!! But the one sitting on my counter is still stalking me! Guess I will just make the bisque again, no one will complain that's for sure!
Garlic Butternut Bisque
Ingredients
- 1 whole garlic bulb
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup chopped onion
- ½ cup diced carrots
- 20 ounces cubed peeled butternut squash
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Optional topping: additional heavy cream and minced sage
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Remove the papery outer skin of the garlic bulbs but don't remove the bulbs.
- Cut off the top of the garlic bulbs.
- Rub the olive oil all over the bulb and wrap in tin foil.
- Bake 30 minutes and let cool 10 minutes before unwrapping.
- In a large Dutch oven melt the butter and add the onions and carrots. Cook until tender.
- Stir in the butternut squash, the broth and sage.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes or until the squash is fork tender.
- Squeeze the garlic bulbs right into the soup. Cool slightly.
- Use an immersion blender or place mixture into a blender and process until smooth. (If using a blender, place a clean hand towel over the cover but lift one corner of the cover to allow steam to escape.)
- Return to Dutch oven and add heavy cream, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust as needed.
- Garnish with a little heavy cream and chopped sage.
Nutrition
Did you know I have a cookbook soon to be released on December 9, 2014. Right now you can pre-order on Amazon at a discount!
Have you tried this using greek yoghurt in lieu of the heavy cream? I'm thinking it could be a bit tangy. Do you think another garlic bulb would offset it? Or do you have another suggestion. This recipe sounds luscious, but I can't tolerate milk products with whey.
Maybe try coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
This is like heaven in a bowl!!!
Bisque really does make soup sound all fancy. This one looks all thick and luxurious! Also we always start our holiday meals with soup too.
Oh this looks so comforting! It's so cold out around these parts, this soup would be perfect!
ok, I literally just want this for Thanksgiving and that's it! haha.
I love thick and creamy soups! Especially with this cold weather we are having!
So comforting to see butternut squash soup this time of year! Yours looks great!
Love the roasted garlic addition. Can't wait to see your next recipe too!
Where is the recipe??
Apparently WordPress just updated my blog automatically and ALL my recipes are currently "missing", I've left a message with the person who helps me.
Oh my! This sounds divine. I can just taste that sweet roasted garlic!
This is gorgeous!!
Oh this sounds amazing
This looks delicious!
However -- actually, lobster IS a Thanksgiving dish that along with many other types of shellfish and seafood was on that first Thanksgiving table in 1621. I would love to make a lobster bisque as a first course this year, but with 22 people at the table I cannot afford it!
Thanks for the many wonderful recipes you so generously share. Have a splendid holiday!
I know it will be scrumptious!
Cass
Well being from an Italian family, lobster on Thanksgiving has never been seen at our family table, but oh how I would love it!
I do not eat meat. Have you ever tried using vegetable broth in place of chicken?
That's an easy substitution that would work fine.
I can never resist a good bisque!
I love thick creamy soups! Especially today, it is cold out there!
You've put 3 of my favorite words together. This can only be magical.
Thank you friend!