Description
Rustic Roasted Winter Vegetable Chowder is a hearty, creamy soup packed with seasonal roasted root vegetables like butternut squash, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. Blended partially for a rich texture and balanced with earthy thyme and smooth milk, this comforting chowder is perfect for cold days. It’s vegetarian, flexible, and ideal for cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 small butternut squash (about 2 cups), peeled, seeded, and diced into 1-inch pieces
- 3 medium parsnips (about 1 cup), peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
- 1 medium sweet potato (about 1 cup), peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 medium carrots (about 1 cup), peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 fennel bulb (about 1 cup), thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (plus 1/2 teaspoon later in the recipe)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for roasting vegetables)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (for soup base)
- 1 medium onion (about 2 cups), diced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 medium russet potatoes (about 2 cups), peeled and diced into 3/4-inch pieces
- 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 cup milk (2% recommended, or use unsweetened plain almond milk for vegan)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: Additional thyme leaves and black pepper for garnish
- Optional: Crumbled bacon for meat-eaters
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, toss butternut squash, parsnips, sweet potato, carrots, and fennel with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Spread the vegetables on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned in spots.
- While the vegetables roast, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large soup pot over low heat. Add diced onion with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook for about 10 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Stir in the flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to form a roux.
- Gradually add the vegetable broth, stirring to combine. Add the diced potatoes and thyme sprigs.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook uncovered for about 15 minutes, or until potatoes are soft.
- Remove thyme stems and discard. Stir in the roasted vegetables.
- Transfer about 3 cups of the chowder to a blender and puree until smooth. Carefully return the blended mixture to the pot and stir to combine.
- Stir in the milk and bring the soup back to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often.
- Adjust seasoning with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve hot, garnished with thyme leaves, cracked black pepper, or reserved roasted vegetables. Add crumbled bacon if desired.
Notes
- For a vegan version, use unsweetened almond milk or oat milk instead of dairy.
- You can substitute russet potatoes with Yukon Gold for a naturally creamy texture without peeling.
- Blend more or less of the soup depending on your desired texture.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently before serving.
- Freeze without the milk and add it after reheating for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Roasting, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 374 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 546 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 4 mg