Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Sage Leaves

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash
• 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 ribs celery, coarsely chopped
• 1 carrot, coarsely chopped
• 1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
• 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 8 fresh sage leaves, rolled together and cut into thin strips

Directions:

1. In a large soup pot, heat 2 1/2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the squash, onion, celery, carrot, and apple and sauté until the vegetables are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the chile powder and a small pinch of salt and cook for 30 seconds longer.
2. Add the broth and dried sage. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the squash is very soft, about 40 minutes.
3. Working in batches, use a standard blender or food processor to make a smooth purée. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender right in the pot.)
4. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the cream. Cover the soup and set aside off the heat.
5. Line a plate with paper towels. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small skillet until very hot. (When you drop in a sliver of sage leaf it should quickly sizzle and brown.) Add the sage all at once and cook, moving it around with a heat-proof spoon, until it turns brown and crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the sage to the plate to drain.
6. To serve, ladle the hot soup into bowls and top with the crispy sage leaves.