Butternut Squash Noodle Soup with Turkey
This is a comforting and healthy soup featuring tender butternut squash noodles and lean cooked turkey. Simmered in a flavorful low-sodium chicken broth with aromatic vegetables and a hint of smoky chipotle, it offers a nutritious and satisfying meal. It’s a great option for a quick, hearty lunch or dinner with a unique texture twist.
Equipment
- 1 Large stockpot or Dutch oven For simmering the soup
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Chef's knife For chopping vegetables and preparing squash
- 1 Vegetable Peeler Essential for peeling butternut squash
- 1 Spiralizer or Julienne Peeler For creating uniform butternut squash noodles; a sharp knife can also be used for careful julienning
Ingredients
Main
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 ribs celery chopped
- 0.5 white onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
- 0.75 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 0.25 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper or to taste
- 0.75 butternut squash peeled and cut into noodle shapes
- 2 cups diced cooked turkey
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro or more to taste
Instructions
- Peel and chop the celery and white onion. Mince the garlic. Peel the butternut squash and carefully cut it into thin noodle shapes using a spiralizer, julienne peeler, or a sharp knife.
- In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, combine the low-sodium chicken broth, chopped celery, chopped white onion, minced garlic, Mexican oregano, and ground chipotle chile pepper.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, then add the prepared butternut squash noodles to the pot.
- Continue to simmer gently for about 8-10 minutes, or until the butternut squash noodles are tender-crisp, being careful not to overcook them to maintain their integrity.
- Stir in the diced cooked turkey and allow it to heat through completely, which should take just a few minutes.
- Stir in the fresh cilantro. Taste the soup and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more chipotle for heat or salt to preference.
- Ladle the hot soup into individual serving bowls.
- Garnish with additional fresh cilantro if desired before serving warm.
Notes
For best results, ensure your butternut squash noodles are uniformly cut to promote even cooking; a spiralizer is ideal, but a sharp julienne peeler or a careful chef's knife can achieve similar results. Sautéing the celery, onion, and garlic until softened before adding the broth will build a deeper flavor base for your soup. Adjust the chipotle chile pepper to your desired spice level; a little goes a long way. Add the cooked turkey towards the end of the simmering process, just enough to heat it through, to prevent it from becoming dry. Always use low-sodium broth to control the final seasoning of your soup, adjusting salt only after all ingredients have melded. Finish with fresh cilantro for a bright, aromatic lift.