Spooky Butternut Squash Soup

Celebrate the flavours of autumn with this spooky butternut squash soup, rich, silky, and full of seasonal warmth. The natural sweetness of roasted squash blends beautifully with fragrant spices and creamy yogurt, creating a perfectly balanced soup for Halloween parties or cosy evenings at home. Whether served as a starter or a comforting main, this vibrant orange soup captures everything we love about autumn.

Servings: 5 portions
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Appliance: Instant Pot Multicooker

Ingredients

• 55 g unsalted butter
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 550 g butternut squash, cubed
• 475 ml chicken stock
• 120 g full-fat Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
• 240 g sour cream, plus more for garnish

Preparation method

Sauté the base
Select Sauté, More/High on your Instant Pot and preheat for 15 minutes. Add the butter and let it melt. Stir in the onion, garlic, and garam masala, and cook for 5–7 minutes until soft and fragrant.

Add the squash
Stir in the cubed butternut squash, chicken stock, and salt. Mix well to coat everything evenly in flavour.

Pressure cook
Secure the lid and select Pressure Cook, High for 10 minutes. When finished, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.

Blend and finish
Carefully transfer the soup to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Select Sauté, More/High again for 5 minutes, return the soup to the pot, and stir in the Greek yogurt. Season to taste and let it cook gently for another 2–3 minutes to combine the flavours.

Create the spooky touch
Ladle the soup into bowls. Spoon the sour cream into a small plastic bag and snip off a corner to make a piping bag. Pipe three circles on top of the soup, then use a toothpick to drag lines from the centre outward, forming a spiderweb pattern. Repeat for each bowl and serve immediately.

This spooky butternut squash soup is the perfect way to embrace autumn, creamy, warming, and just a little eerie. For more seasonal ideas, check out our Instant Pot recipe collection and discover new ways to make cosy, flavourful dishes at home.