Squash & Celery Soup

Combine sweet, nutty squash with the mild flavor of celery to create an autumnal soup rich in flavor and chock full of important nutrients. Incorporate additional vegetables and your choice of seasonings to tailor the soup to your preferences. Puree the soup in a food processor or use a hand blender to create a silky, smooth soup.

Squash

Winter squash, available from late summer to early winter, has a robust, slightly nutty flavor that pairs well with other vegetables. A nutrient-dense vegetable, winter squash contains vitamins A and C, as well as beta carotene, fiber, manganese and potassium. Winter squash also provides folate, which helps the body produce new cells. Incorporate butternut squash into soup, or use other winter squash such as acorn, kabocha or Hubbard. Choose winter squash that feels solid and heavy in comparison to its size.

Celery

Mild-flavored celery provides fiber, potassium, vitamin C and healthy levels of vitamin K, which promotes healthy bone development. According to University of California Good Life Garden, phytochemicals in celery may help to lower blood pressure and prevent certain cancers. Select sturdy, firm, pale green stalks of celery with bright green leaves.

Liquid

Chicken broth is often the basis of vegetable soups, but you can use vegetable broth if you prefer a vegetarian soup. Homemade vegetable broth isn't difficult to make, and you can control the ingredients in the broth. To make vegetable broth, boil a variety of vegetables such as carrots, onion, celery, tomatoes and mushrooms, then season as desired. Strain the vegetables and use the vitamin-rich broth in your soup. Alternatively, use convenient, low-sodium canned broth.

Add-Ins

While squash, celery and broth are the primary ingredients in squash and celery soup, you can incorporate extras such as spinach, parsley, carrots, onions, shallots or garlic to increase the flavor and nutritional content. Season the soup with basic freshly ground black pepper and a dash of salt, then add seasonings such as nutmeg, sage or thyme.