Grab that soup spoon.
There could be a couple of reasons I love soups on weeknights. I feel really comfortable hugging that soup bowl and knowing my day is done well. Plus I like my tummy full to go to sleep, that doesn’t mean I need to tuck in tons of calories along with it. So, butternut squash soup with teff works perfectly.
Using super grains to add density to the soup.
While making soup as the main dish you need a nourishing balance to flavour and nutrition. During soup nights, we make hearty, low-fat soups that keep us full. As we like to add a bit of grain or seeds to different soups this gives the soup a bit more thickness and fills you up better like we added barley to soup e Jo, red rice to the vegetable soup or finger millets to the greens soup. Today we are cooking with teff in this butternut squash soup.
Let’s figure out teff.
Teff is a super small grain is a feature of Ethiopian cuisine. Don’t go by its size, teff is naturally gluten-free and valued for a lot of micronutrient levels ( source ) is not only popularised by nutritional gurus, but also by agriculturists. This is considered a low-risk crop similar to millets as they can grow well in low rainfall regions too. Cultivated for centuries teff falls under the ancient grains group of cereals. Teff grains come in a variety of colours, lighter to deep reds, so look for the tiny grains than the colour.
Cooking with teff
If you can cook rice, you can easily tackle cooking with teff. Here is my tried and tested method to cook whole grain teff.
Toasting the grains – on a low heat toasting the tiny teff grains till you hear the faint pop makes it much easier for the grain to cook. It doesn’t take long on medium heat, but don’t overlook away from it as it burns fast (too tiny).
Cooking teff grains –Being such tiny grains, whole grain teff cooks into a smooth polenta like porridge. Real smooth with a tasty bite to it. If making porridge you can cook it with 1.5 times water or cooking liquid. Since this is a soup, I have added two times the liquid to cook it. Teff tends to absorb more liquid as it cools so add more liquid to keep the soup consistency of you are making it ahead.
Other ways of cooking with teff.
Teff grains are ground and used as flour in gluten-free baking. The bread made with teff looks lovely with it. The most famous of the teff flour recipes is Injera bread from Ethiopian cuisine.
Let’s get on with the butternut squash and teff soup.
Butternut squash soup with teff is a wonderful recipe that works as a main course. With just some crispy onions on top, the soup is eye-pleasing and delicious. The soup pairs perfectly with crisp cheese straws and can be served as soup shots for an appetizer. Here is the recipe with detailed step by step instructions.
Butternut squash soup with teff.
Equipment
- Roasting tray
- Cutting board
- Knife
- deep pot
Ingredients
Roasting the butternut squash
- 1 small butternut squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt to taste
For making the soup.
- 1 tsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 medium leeks use the leek greens as well.
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 2 tbsp teff
to serve
- crushed black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 200 degrees
- Wash and pat dry the butternut squash.
- Slice off the ends and cut the squash lengthwise.
- Scoop the seeds and insides and remove it.
- Gently rub the olive oil on it and place it on the roasting tray.
- Roast the squash for about 45 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to cool.
- Once cool, scoop the squash flesh and set it aside.
- Wash and slice the leeks in thin circles.
- Wash and set aside the teff grains.
- Into a soup pot, add the butter and set it on medium heat.
- Roast the sliced leek in the butter.
- Once caramelised, remove 2 tablespoons of leeks from the pot and set it aside.
- Add the washed teff into the pot and let it roast for a minute.
- Now add the cooking liquid and let it come to a boil.
- once the butternut squash has cooled, scoop off the insides and mash it gently.
- As the teff cooks and softens, add the pureed roasted butternut squash.
- Stir the soup well and let it continue to cook till it reaches a desired thickness.
- Remove from heat and serve warm.
- Sprinkle crushed pepper and adjust salt as needed.
If you were on the lookout for a grain-free pumpkin soup try this roasted pumpkin soup.
The pumpkin puree we have used in this soup is the same method that we used for roasting the pumpkin puree. If you are looking for another option to use some butternut squash puree, try this Pumpkin Quesidias.
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Delicious soup, so filling and full of flavour!
Thanks Sara, I am glad you made the teff soup with butternut squash and like it.
Light, quick and easy Dinner Bowl. My first attempt to trying this recipe out. Thanks
I am so glad Veena that It was perfect for you. Thankyou for the rating and sharing your feed back.
This butternut squash soup looks delicious! What a great dish to serve in the winter.
The smooth butter nut squash is a treat for winter. I am glad you will try.
This is perfect comfort food on a cold day, I love butternut soup!
Mandy, it is the most comfortable cold day dish for sure.
The perfect dish for this time of the year. Warming and comforting – yum!
I love butternut squash soup during the cooler months. I am glad you do too.
This soup is now something the Bangalore weather calls for … its super chill here with incessant rains … nice info on a new ingredient called teff.
Teff is a very useful grain. I am sure the soup is useful for the Bangalore chills.
The only thing I’ve eaten which has teff is injera and they are delicious. Love butternut squash and adding some healthy grain to it is a wonderful idea.Your description and how teff cooks, has given me an incentive to order it online and use it in my kitchen. Thank you so much.
Teff is a very tasty grain, I love making a few different things with it. I haven’t tried injera though. the teff adds volume to the soups and dishes you add it to.
Butternut squash soup looks so inviting and ideal for our dinner. Good to know about teff Seema.
Teff is a rare grain, but truly lovely. If you see it, do give it a try.
Hey Seema,
I was looking at your recipe and the image, can’t see the grain? Can you share how it looks?
Hi Rohini, Thank you for pointing this out. Teff is a very tiny grain so sot big enough to be seen when cooked into the soup. However, I will add an image of what teff looks like so you can pick up some.