SLOW COOKER BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

SLOW COOKER BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

This slow cooker butternut soup is rich, creamy, and full of delicious butternut flavor.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups vegetable stock (I used a whole box)
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced(or a bag or so of baby carrots....sweet flavor)
• 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and diced
• 1 medium (uncooked) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced
• 1 sprig fresh sage
• 1 white onion, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper, or more to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or more to taste
• pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg
• 1/2 cup canned coconut milk( just use the whole can)
• optional garnishes: extra coconut milk and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper (or smoked paprika)

DIRECTIONS:

Add vegetable stock, garlic, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, onion, salt, pepper, cayenne, cinnamon and nutmeg to a slow cooker.  Toss to combine.

Cook for 6-8 hours on low, or 3-4 hours on high, or until the squash is completely tender and mashes easily with a fork.  Remove and discard the sage.  Stir in the coconut milk.

Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth.  (Or you can transfer the soup in two batches into a traditional blender, and puree until smooth, being very careful when working with the hot liquid.)  Taste, and season with additional salt, pepper and cayenne if needed.

Serve warm, with optional garnishes if desired