Recipes Nugget Market Signature Recipes
Vegan Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup with Cashew Cream
- Prep time
- 25 minutes PT25M
- Cook time
- 35–45 minutes PT35–45M
- Yield
- 4–6 servings
- Difficulty
Lots of hearty veggies go into this vegan soup, which gets its lush creaminess from a velvety puree of butternut squash and sweet potato, and a finishing drizzle of cashew cream.
Ingredients
Cashew Cream:
- ½ cup raw cashews½ cup raw cashews ½ cup raw cashews
- 1 cup water1 cup water 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick1 cinnamon stick 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 whole cloves3 whole cloves 3 whole cloves
- 5 whole allspice berries5 whole allspice berries 5 whole allspice berries
- 6 whole peppercorns6 whole peppercorns 6 whole peppercorns
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt¼ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons olive oil4 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons olive oil
Soup:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium carrot, large-diced1 medium carrot, large-diced 1 medium carrot, large-diced
- 1 medium onion, large-diced1 medium onion, large-diced 1 medium onion, large-diced
- 1 leek, washed and cut into ½-inch sections1 leek, washed and cut into ½-inch sections 1 leek, washed and cut into ½-inch sections
- 1 sprig thyme1 sprig thyme 1 sprig thyme
- 1 bay leaf1 bay leaf 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup white wine½ cup white wine ½ cup white wine
- 2 sweet potatoes, large-diced2 sweet potatoes, large-diced 2 sweet potatoes, large-diced
- 1 small butternut squash, large-diced1 small butternut squash, large-diced 1 small butternut squash, large-diced
- 4 cups vegetable stock, plus more as needed4 cups vegetable stock, plus more as needed 4 cups vegetable stock, plus more as needed
- 1 cinnamon stick1 cinnamon stick 1 cinnamon stick
- Kosher salt, to taste Kosher salt, to taste Kosher salt, to taste
- Cracked black pepper, to taste Cracked black pepper, to taste Cracked black pepper, to taste
- Croutons, for garnish Croutons, for garnish Croutons, for garnish
- 1 bunch chives, chopped, for garnish1 bunch chives, chopped, for garnish 1 bunch chives, chopped, for garnish
Preparation
For the cashew cream, place the cashews and water in a small sauce pot. Wrap the whole spices in cheesecloth, tying securely, and add to the pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes on low.
Remove spices, squeezing any liquid from the cheesecloth into the pot, then discard spices. Transfer cashews and cooking liquid to a blender and puree on high until smooth and creamy. Strain cashew cream into a work bowl, then place in the refrigerator to chill for 30–45 minutes. Once chilled, whisk in the salt and olive oil, and reserve.
For the soup, heat an 8-quart sauce pot on medium heat. Add the olive oil and sauté the carrots, onions, and leeks with the thyme and bay leaf for 6–8 minutes. When the onions are translucent and just beginning to caramelize, deglaze with the white wine and cook for 3–5 minutes to reduce to a syrup.
Add the sweet potatoes, butternut squash, vegetable stock, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until the sweet potatoes and squash are very tender.
Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf then puree in batches in a blender on high and strain through a fine mesh strainer. Add more vegetable stock to thin if desired. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Serve with croutons, chopped chives, and a drizzle of cashew cream.


