Description
Roasted feta soup blends Mediterranean charm with hearty winter comfort, marrying Greek cheese and sweet butternut squash in a silky, aromatic experience. Rich honey drizzles seamlessly through this soul-warming bowl, inviting you to savor each luxurious spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 cups (1.2 liters) butternut squash, cubed
- 1 (8 ounces/226 grams) feta chunk
- 1 quart (32 ounces/946 milliliters) vegetable broth
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- ½ bulb garlic (bottom half only)
- 4 sage leaves
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Liquid and Sweetener:
- ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) honey
Instructions
- Arrange an oven rack in the center position and heat to 400°F, ensuring proper temperature calibration for optimal roasting.
- Select a robust braising pan or heavy-duty oven-safe vessel, then generously coat the interior with olive oil, creating a protective layer for the ingredients.
- Distribute butternut squash evenly across the cooking surface, seasoning thoroughly with salt and incorporating dried herbs if available, ensuring each piece is uniformly coated.
- Position a whole feta chunk centrally within the pan, strategically placing a halved garlic bulb cut-side downward adjacent to the cheese.
- Seal the pan with a tight-fitting lid and transfer to the preheated oven, allowing ingredients to roast and caramelize for 45-60 minutes until squash reaches tender perfection and feta softens slightly.
- Carefully extract the roasted garlic, gently squeezing fragrant cloves directly into the pan, then introduce honey, vegetable broth, and fresh herbs to enhance the developing flavor profile.
- Transform the roasted mixture into a velvety consistency using your preferred blending method – immersion blender, food processor, or standard blender – ensuring a smooth, luxurious texture.
- Conduct a final seasoning assessment, adjusting salt levels to personal preference, then present the soup with an elegant honey drizzle and accompanied by crispy feta toast.
Notes
- Roasting transforms butternut squash and feta into a rich, deeply caramelized flavor foundation that elevates this comforting soup beyond ordinary recipes.
- Whole roasted garlic cloves infuse the soup with a mellow, sweet complexity that adds unexpected depth without overwhelming the delicate squash and feta combination.
- Fresh herbs added after roasting preserve their vibrant aromatics and provide a bright, fresh counterpoint to the soup’s deep, warm undertones.
- Blending techniques matter – use a high-powered blender for the smoothest texture, ensuring no chunks disrupt the silky consistency of this elegant soup.
- Honey serves dual purposes: a subtle sweetness during cooking and a finishing drizzle that creates a gorgeous golden sheen and balanced flavor profile.
- Choose a good-quality vegetable broth to complement the roasted ingredients, as it acts as the liquid base that ties all the complex flavors together harmoniously.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg