Roasted Balsamic Winter Vegetable Soup

Recipe by The Gourmet RD

This soup is warm, comforting, luscious and so simple to make.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp  finely fresh thyme
• 1 tsp  finely chopped fresh basil
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• dash coarse kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 large red onion (halved, cut in to wedges)
• 1 large granny smith apple (cubed)
• 1 large sweet potato (peeled and cubed)
• 1 large butternut squash ( peeled and cubed)
• ½ lb carrots ( peeled and chopped in rounds )
• 3 cups unsalted vegetable stock
• 4 tbsp plain nonfat yogurt
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar, brown sugar or honey
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon and/or nutmeg
• pinch cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
• toppings: Honey, shaved fresh Parmesan, chopped walnuts/pecans

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk vinegar, thyme and basil together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Place chopped onion, apple, sweet potato, squash and carrots on large baking sheet. Add dressing and season with salt and pepper; toss to coat.
   
    Roast until vegetables are tender and slightly brown around edges, about 35-40 minutes. Place vegetables in a large stock pot and pour in 3-4 cups of vegetable stock, just enough to cover the vegetables.
   
   Heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10-15 minutes, until vegetables are soft. Puree soup using a [stick] blender, adding more broth if necessary.
   
   Add yogurt, sugar, cinnamon/nutmeg and cayenne/crushed red pepper flakes and continue to puree until incorporated. Season with a dash of salt and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
   
   Top soup with a drizzle of honey, shaved fresh Parmesan and chopped walnuts/pecans.

View the recipe instructions at The Gourmet RD