Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup (Printable Version)

Smooth butternut squash soup, blended with spices and topped with a festive spiderweb design for Halloween.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and diced

→ Liquids

06 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
07 - 1/2 cup coconut milk, plus extra for garnish
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Spices and Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

14 - 2 tablespoons coconut milk or sour cream, for spiderweb design
15 - 12 black olives, for spider bodies and heads
16 - 1 small cucumber or black tortilla chips, for spider legs

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add olive oil, onion, and carrots; cook about 3 to 4 minutes until vegetables soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and diced apple; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add butternut squash, ground cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until vegetables are evenly coated with spices.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth. Secure lid and set Instant Pot to Manual (High Pressure) for 10 minutes.
05 - When cooking finishes, allow pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then use quick release to finish.
06 - Blend soup directly in the pot using an immersion blender, or transfer in batches to a blender, until completely smooth.
07 - Stir in coconut milk and adjust seasoning to taste.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle a spiral of coconut milk or sour cream on each serving and use a toothpick to drag lines from the center outward, creating a spiderweb pattern.
09 - Halve black olives for the spider body and head. Cut thin strips of cucumber or tortilla chips for legs. Arrange spiders on soup.
10 - Serve soup immediately while hot.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Ready in just over half an hour so perfect for busy nights
  • Family friendly with mild kid welcoming flavors
  • Uses wholesome everyday vegetables you likely already have on hand
  • Versatile — dress it up for Halloween or keep it simple for any fall meal
  • Garnish makes it look impressive with very little effort
02 -
  • Packed with vitamins and fiber making it both nutritious and filling
  • Can easily be made vegan and gluten free by checking the toppings
  • Freezes beautifully so perfect for meal prepping
03 -
  • If time allows roast your squash before adding to the pot to deepen its flavor even more
  • For extra silky soup strain it through a fine mesh sieve after blending
  • Taste at the end and tweak seasoning especially salt and pepper to let the natural sweetness balance with a touch of spice
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