Thai Coconut Curry Soup

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Curried Butternut Squash Soup that is MEGA creamy without any heavy cream, mega healthy and mega flavorful!

This Curried Butternut Squash Soup is infused with red curry, ginger, garlic coconut milk, and sriracha – the layers of flavor are SO comforting and positively ADDICTING! This will easily be the best butternut squash soup recipe you have ever tried!

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top view of curried butternut squash soup in a white bowl

Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Soup

I hope you don’t think it’s too early for soup season because I am just too in love with this Curried Butternut Squash Soup to wait to share it with you! I LOVE creamy, vegetable soups that are healthier but taste decadently delicious like my Creamy Cauliflower Soup, Broccoli Soup, Tomato Basil Soup and now this Curried Butternut Squash Soup!
So even though it’s barely Fall, I decided waiting to share this recipe would be selfish on my part because the sooner I share this creamy butternut squash soup recipe, the sooner you could savor it and fall in love with soup all over again!

This Thai butternut squash soup was inspired by traditional butternut squash soup but I decided to make it Thai-style because its rich, creamy texture demands bold flavors. I’ve infused this butternut squash soup recipe with red curry, coconut milk, ginger, basil and Sriracha.

This soup is mega creamy (without any cream!), mega healthy and mega flavorful. It is one of those soups that gets better the longer the flavors meld – so you can even prepare this easy butternut squash soup recipe a day or two in advance and it will be even more scrumptious – as will any leftovers!

This Curried Butternut Squash Soup is is delectable on its own – but it’s even more outrageously delicious with Honey Sriracha Squash Seeds!

As I was cutting my butternut squash, I thought it would be such a shame to not use the seeds, so I decided to roast them in honey, Sriracha and cumin. They are DELISH! I had to smack Patrick’s hand from eating them all or I wasn’t going to have any left to adorn the Curried Butternut Squash Soup.

I’ve also garnished this Curried Butternut Squash Soup with roasted peanuts which adds the perfect balance and interest of texture to the creamy soup. So for me, the crunch of the peanuts are a must, for Patrick the roasted honey Sriracha seeds are a must – so I added them both and this Thai Butternut Squash Soup Recipe is doubly delish!

Curry Soup Ingredients

This creamy butternut squash sweet potato soup comes together easily! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

Coconut oil: You can substitute with your preferred cooking oil if you wish.
Sweet onion: One yellow onion will do the trick.
Red curry paste: You can add more curry paste to taste once the soup is simmering or add sriracha to taste at the end of cooking.
Fresh ginger: I highly recommend using fresh ginger rather than dried in this recipe as it adds flavor without overpowering the soup.
Butternut squash: If you have more or less squash than the recipe calls for, it’s not a huge deal, it just might affect the consistency slightly which you can easily adjust.

Sweet potato: You’ll need 1 large sweet potato for this recipe.
Carrots: I used regular carrots, but substitute baby carrots if that’s all you have.
Chicken or veggie broth: I prefer chicken broth over vegetable broth because it has more flavor.
Coconut milk: Use full-fat canned coconut milk, not the kind that comes in a carton.
Fish sauce: A must for any Thai-inspired dish!
Dried basil: Fresh may be substituted, if desired.
Red pepper flakes: Adds a little kick of spice.
Lime juice: Freshly squeezed will deliver the best flavor.
Peanuts: For garnish. Omit if you’re allergic.

side view of Curried Butternut Squash recipe with honey sriracha squash seeds

How to Make Butternut Squash Soup With Coconut Milk

Let’s take a closer look at how to make this recipe with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

SQUASH SEEDS: Rinse squash seeds and pat dry. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, coconut oil, Sriracha, salt and cumin. Add seeds and stir until evenly coated. Spread seeds out evenly on baking sheet in a single layer. Cook for 25-30 minutes (or longer) depending on how “crunchy” you like your seeds.
COOK VEGGIES: Meanwhile, melt coconut oil in a large sauté pan (may use large soup pot or Dutch oven), over medium heat. When oil is hot, add, onions and sauté until onions are soft, about 3 – 5 minutes. Add red curry paste, red pepper flakes, ginger and garlic; stir to combine with onions; saute for 3 minutes. Add squash, sweet potatoes, carrots and chicken stock. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
BLEND VEGGIES: Once vegetables are soft, turn off the heat and get out a second pot (large enough to hold soup). Pour half of the vegetable mixture into blender/food processor. Puree until soup is smooth, taking care to not cover the blender completely or it will explode (I use a paper towel), then transfer to the clean pot. Repeat with remaining soup. You can also use an immersion blender but I find a traditional blender gets the soup even creamier.
ADD-INS: Add coconut milk, fish sauce, and basil to the soup and cook until soup is heated through (2-5 minutes). When ready to server, stir in 2 tablespoons lime juice. Taste soup and add desired amount of Sriracha, salt and pepper to taste.
SERVE: To serve, squeeze fresh lime juice onto individual bowls for a fresh pop and garnish with roasted seeds, peanuts and cilantro.

Tip: Read my post on Classic Butternut Squash Soup for tips and tricks on how to prepare butternut squash, how to store it, and more.

Make Thai Coconut Curry Soup in Advance

Butternut Squash Soup reheats beautifully, so it is perfect to make in advance. You can even meal prep by adding serving size portions into separate containers for the week (or up to 5 days). You can reheat individual servings in the microwave or heat larger quantities on the stove or crockpot until warmed through – see detailed instructions below.

Tips For Making This Recipe For Butternut Squash Soup

Pre-Cut Vegetables: You can purchase pre-cut butternut squash in order to save time. It won’t have the seeds with it to roast, but will be delicious with the peanuts – you will just have to try the seeds another time!
Fish Sauce: Please don’t skip! I feel like fish sauce has a bad rap – or maybe it’s just with Patrick who I have to hide the bottle of fish sauce from the second after I use it any recipe. What he doesn’t realize is the that fish sauce is completely necessary for authentic Thai flavor in most dishes. It adds a nutty, rich, savory, salty taste.
In fact, I added fish sauce to the butternut squash soup because it was missing a big “something” ah ha – fish sauce! So if you’ve never used it (it can be found in the Asian isle of any grocery store), just don’t smell it – and you are good to go!
Red Curry Paste: Some Curry brands are spicier than others. If you are using a more mild brand like Thai Kitchen, then I would start with ¼ cup curry paste. If you are using a spicier brand like Mae Ploy, I would start with 2 tablespoons. You can add more curry paste to taste once the soup is simmering or add sriracha to taste at the end of cooking.

Curry Soup Variations

Roast the squash: Feel free to roast the butternut squash for an added nutty flavor. You could also roast the fennel and onions (sliced into thin wedges) with the squash, but take care to use an extra-large pan so you can space everything apart or they will steam and not roast.
Mexican version: replace the seasonings with 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin, 1/2 tsp EACH chipotle chile powder (more or less to taste), smoked paprika, dried oregano, and a pinch of cinnamon. Add 2-4 tablespoons lime juice to taste and garnish with cilantro.
Italian version: replace the seasonings with ½ tablespoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon dried thyme and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Stir in ½ Parmesan until melted.

top view of curried butternut squash soup with squash seeds, peanuts and cilantro

What to Serve With Curry Soup

I love serving Butternut Squash Soup with simple sides to make it a meal. Try it with:

BREAD. I love mopping up soup with a hearty piece of bread. This soup is delicious with grilled cheese (try Gruyere or Gouda!), garlic bread, breadsticks, dinner rolls or. sweet moist cornbread.
ROASTED VEGETABLES. Although this Butternut squash Soup boasts veggies, its soothing warm creaminess is delightfully complimented by nutty, crisp tender roasted veggies such as roasted cauliflower, roasted broccoli, r oasted carrots, Brussels sprouts or roasted asparagus.
SALAD. Soup and salads are a match made in heaven! I love pairing this Butternut Squash Soup with Fall Salad, Apple Salad, or Pear Salad.

How to Store Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

This Curried Butternut Squash Soup will last about 4-5 days in the refrigerator.

How to Reheat Curry Soup

•Microwave: For smaller batches or individual servings, transfer Butternut Squash Soup to a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel. Microwave for 2 minutes, stir, then continue to microwave for 30-second intervals, if needed.

•Stove: reheat large batches of soup in a Dutch oven on the stove over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.

•Crockpot: Transfer soup to crockpot and heat on low for 1-2 hours.

How to Freeze Curry Soup

This soup freezes well because it does not contain any dairy, potatoes, rice or pasta.

•Cool. Cool the Curried Butternut Squash Soup completely before freezing.
•Package: Transfer soup to a freezer safe container. You can use sandwich size plastic bags for individual soup portions, quart size bags or freezer bags. To easy fill these bags, place them in a container that you can wrap the top around the edge of – for example, place a sandwich size bag in a mug then cuff the edges around the mug. This keeps the bag open and prevents it from collapsing when you are pouring in your soup. Squeeze out any excess air then seal and label.
•Freeze. Freeze Thai Butternut Squash Soup for up to three months
•Defrost/Reheat. The easiest way to thaw your soup is in your refrigerator overnight then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Looking for more Butternut Squash Recipes?

Butternut Squash Risotto
Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries, Caramelized Pecans and Goat Cheese
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
Roasted Butternut Squash with Cashews
Slow Cooker Thai Butternut Squash Soup
Slow Cooker Thai Chicken, Wild Rice, Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
Roasted Maple Dijon Brussels Spouts and Butternut Squash

You might also like these Asian recipes:

Slow Cooker Thai Coconut Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
30 Minute Sticky Thai Peanut Orange Chicken
Pumpkin Coconut Chicken Fall Curry
Peanut Pineapple Thai Chicken Satay
Tom Kha Gai (Chicken Coconut Soup)
Better Than Takeout Secret Ingredient Beef and Broccoli
Asian Sweet Chili Shrimp

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Tools Used in This Recipe

Non-Stick Baking Mats

Baking Sheet Half Sheet (13×18)

Cast Iron Dutch Oven 7.25 qt. (All Colors)

BlendTec Blender

Garlic Press

Ground Ginger

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Servings: -8

Total Time: 55

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 35

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Ingredients

Thai Butternut Squash Soup

3 tablespoons coconut oil (may substitute olive oil)
1 sweet onion, diced
2-4 tablespoons red curry paste see note
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
8 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups uncooked butternut squash peeled, cut into 1”cubes, seeds separated
1 large sweet potato peeled, cut into 1”cubes
3 medium carrots peeled and chopped
4 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable stock
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 14 oz. can quality coconut milk (I like Chakoah)
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 tablespoons lime juice
Sriracha/Asian hot chili sauce to taste (optional)

Honey Sriracha Butternut Squash Seeds

Reserved butternut squash seeds
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha/ Asian hot chili sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Garnish

Freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup roasted peanuts, chopped (a must! unless you’re allergic)
1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking tray with a slip mat, parchment paper or foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Rinse squash seeds and pat dry. In a small bowl, whisk together “seed ingredients;” add seeds and stir until evenly coated. Spread seeds out evenly on baking sheet in a single layer. Cook for 25-30 minutes (or longer) depending on how “crunchy” you like your seeds.
Meanwhile, melt coconut oil in a large sauté pan (may use large soup pot or Dutch oven), over medium heat. When oil is hot, add, onions and sauté until onions are soft, about 3 – 5 minutes. Add red curry paste, red pepper flakes, ginger and garlic; stir to combine with onions; saute for 3 minutes. Add squash, sweet potatoes, carrots and chicken stock. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
Meanwhile, dry roast peanuts (even if they are already “dry roasted”) in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until golden. Transfer to you food processor or blender and rough chop. Transfer to a bowl or plate.
Once vegetables are soft, turn off the heat and get out a second pot (large enough to hold soup). Pour half of the vegetable mixture into blender/food processor. Puree until soup is smooth, taking care to not cover the blender completely or it will explode (I use a paper towel), then transfer to the clean pot. Repeat with remaining soup.
Add coconut milk, fish sauce, and basil to the soup and cook until soup is heated through (2-5 minutes). When ready to server, stir in 2 tablespoons lime juice. Taste soup and add desired amount of Sriracha, salt and pepper to taste.
To serve, squeeze fresh lime juice onto individual bowls for a fresh pop and garnish with roasted seeds, peanuts and cilantro.

Notes

*Red Curry Paste: Some Curry brands are spicier than others. If you are using a more mild brand like Thai Kitchen then I would start with ¼ cup curry paste. If you are using a spicier brand like Mae Ploy, I would start with 2 tablespoons. You can add more curry paste to taste once the soup is simmering or add sriracha to taste at the end of cooking.

This soup can be ready in a snap if you prep all your vegetables in advance. You can also buy pre-cut butternut squash in order to save time. It won’t have the seeds with it to roast, but will be delicious with the peanuts – you will just have to try the seeds another time!

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64 Comments

Barbara says

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Goodness, this recipe is amazing in flavor! It will now become a go-to recipe on a regular basis in our home. The texture is very smooth. The heat from the spice is intense and soul rendering satisfying. My two comments are: it is an easy recipe to substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth making it vegetarian. And my second comment is this: I was in a hurry to get a soup made but had little time in which to hang around making it on the stove top. My solution was to saute the onions, adding the garlic last minute, adding the red curry paste for flavor infusion, finally adding all the rest of the ingredients in my Dutch Oven. I put the soup in the oven on 250 F degrees for 3 plus hours. I pureed the soup and to my great relief and delight, the soup was fantastic! Oh so delicious! The complexity and depth was not compromised. Thank you for this recipe.

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- Jen says
  
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  Hi Barbara, sorry for the delay as I switched servers and it took a few days to get all my comments transferred but thank you so much for your comment! I am thrilled you loved this soup so much and it will be a new go to – yay! Thank you so much for sharing your easy, speedy method – I will definitely have to try that – sounds like less work with all the flavor!
  
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- Melissa says
  
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  So glad I saw this comment-I used the oven trick so I didn’t have to babysit it on the stove. I have a big family so I double all the recipes I make and that many veggies can take some time to get soft. The oven at 350 for 40 mins worked great with a covered pot! I just love this website and all your recipes Jen!
  
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  - Jen says
    
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    Thanks so much Melissa! That’s so good to hear that you loved this recipe and that you were able to save time and energy by cooking the veggies in the oven! I hope you continue to find recipes to love!
    
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Allison Y says

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Made this tonight the day after Thanksgiving, for something warm, flavorful and comforting.
OH-MAH-GAWD!!!!!
The richness in flavour, and the subtle heat following the creamy heartiness of the butternut squash!
I am taking this to work to feed the staff for lunch tomorrow!
I would pay damn good money in any restaraunt if this was on the fall season menu!

Thank you for sharing your recipe. This will be part of my repitoire from here on out!!

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- Jen says
  
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  Thank you so much for your awesome comment Allison! I’m thrilled you loved the soup so much and everyone is going to love you even more a work tomorrow!
  
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Rose Malloy says

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What is the spice level on the soup? I love spice, but wondering if my kids will be ok with it. They can handle some spice, but wondering what this level would be. Mild, medium, hot?

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- Jen says
  
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  Hi Rose, I would say it is medium spicy if you use red curry paste from Thai Kitchen and on the hot side if you use curry paste from Mae Ploy (all their pastes tend be spicier). I recommend using the curry paste from Thai Kitchen and omitting the red pepper flakes. I think that should be kid friendly and then you can spice yours up. I hope that helps!
  
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Kristie says

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Would this soup freeze well? I am looking for a recipe for a “soup swap” and was wondering if you had any good options. I have loved everything I have tried from your blog 🙂

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- Jen says
  
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  Hi Kristie, I’m thrilled you are enjoying my recipes! Yes this soup should freeze well. Here are a few more freezer friendly soup favs: https://carlsbadcravings.com/smoky-bbq-chicken-chili-slow-cooker-stove-top/ https://carlsbadcravings.com/chicken-tortilla-soup/ https://carlsbadcravings.com/italian-vegetable-soup/ (you can add everything except the cabbage before you freeze) Have fun at your soup swap!
  
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Sabrina says

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Made this for dinner this evening, absolutely amazing flavors. Unfortunately over cooked seeds, what temperature would uyou recommend roasting them for the next time.

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- Jen says
  
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  Hi Sabrina, I’m so happy you loved the soup! In the recipe it says 300 degrees for the seeds but if they were overcooked after 25 minutes, I would just reduce the cooking time next time.
  
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emily nelson says

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This looks amazing! are these 1 cup serving sizes? Trying to make this for a large group and gage the servings. Thank you!

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- Jen says
  
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  Hi Emily, I posted this butternut squash soup 5 years ago and I honestly don’t remember – sorry! My guess is that they are a little larger than 1 cup – closer to 1 1/2.
  
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  - emily nelson says
    
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    thanks!
    
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Heidi says

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Made it for Thanksgiving dinner tonight and it tasted great! Such a clean flavor and the spiced seeds really put it over the top. I subbed my own vegan fish sauce and next time will also add pomegranate seeds. Very good!

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- Jen says
  
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  Thank you so much for your comment Heidi, I’m so pleased you loved the soup! Happy Thanksgiving!
  
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Donald Pojman says

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Thank you for this wonderful recipe. As is evident in the rest of your recipes, you put a lot of thought and information in your blog. I tend to make your recipes as written, and then go through your blog afterwards to add tips or make minor changes. This one was pretty much kept as written. Just wonderful on a cold winter night.

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- Jen says
  
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  Thanks so much Donald, I’m honored you’re enjoying my recipes so much and that you find the information helpful! I’m so pleased this was another hit!
  
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Kam says

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Can you make this in an Instant Pot?

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- Jen says
  
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  Absolutely!
  
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Tiffany says

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Can you replace fish sauce with oyster sauce?

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- Jen says
  
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  Yes, that is a good substitute, enjoy!
  
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kevin says

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Actually posted this review first on wrong soup (not the curry). Sorry!

Literally the best soup we’ve ever had. Seriously.

Flavors, low-but decent heat level, just amazing!

Many thanks…

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- Jen says
  
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  Wow, I’m so glad that it was such a winner! Thank you for letting me know!
  
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ez says

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First time ever making butternut squash soup and now I’ll always make it this way. I used yellow curry paste but didn’t have coconut milk. So, I added about 10 oz of chicken broth plus 1/4 cup coconut cream, otherwise followed your recipe. It was the bomb. So rich and satisfying with just the right touch of heat.

There are so many butternut soup recipes online, but, I’m so glad I found your site and your recipe..

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- Jen says
  
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  Yay! I’m so happy to hear this one will be a go-to!
  
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Lola says

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I’ve made this several times and it’s the best recipe for this kind of soup. I’ve made atleast 5 other recipes and this is the absolute best! I thought I lost it but hurray I found it. I think this is maybe the top best soup I’ve ever made and eaten. I love it better than my beloved thom ka. Thankyou it’s outstanding!!!!

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- Jen says
  
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  Wow Lola! Thank you SO MUCH for your amazing compliment and for sharing your experience you’ve had with this dish. I am so glad that you didn’t lose this recipe and that you love the flavors that this soup offers 🙂
  
  Reply

See More Comments

Curried Butternut Squash Soup that is MEGA creamy without any heavy cream, mega healthy and mega flavorful!

Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Soup

Curry Soup Ingredients

How to Make Butternut Squash Soup With Coconut Milk

Make Thai Coconut Curry Soup in Advance

Tips For Making This Recipe For Butternut Squash Soup

Curry Soup Variations

What to Serve With Curry Soup

How to Store Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

How to Reheat Curry Soup

How to Freeze Curry Soup

Looking for more Butternut Squash Recipes?

You might also like these Asian recipes:

WANT TO TRY THIS RECIPE?

PIN IT to your recipe BOARD TO SAVE FOR LATER!

FIND ME ON PINTEREST FOR MORE GREAT RECIPES! I AM ALWAYS PINNING :)!

Tools Used in This Recipe

Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Soup

Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box

Ingredients

Thai Butternut Squash Soup

Honey Sriracha Butternut Squash Seeds

Garnish

Instructions

Notes

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