White Bean and Squash Soup with Herby Quinoa is a silky smooth soup with flavourful and satisfying herby quinoa. Make on the stove or in the Instant Pot!
In a large pot heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil of medium-high heat. Cook sage leaves for about 3-4 minutes, until starting to brown and become crispy. Remove from pan and drain on a paper towel lined plate.
Add onion to pot, season heavily with salt and pepper, and cook for 4-5 minutes until starting to soften, but not turning brown. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add squash and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and firmly simmer for 30-40 minutes until squash has softened and yields when pricked with a fork. Add beans and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper again.
In batches blend contents of pot. (Hold down blender kid with a tea towel; hot liquid can pop the lid off.) Return blended soup to pot and keep warm.
Meanwhile, place 1 tbsp of oil in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat and add thyme and sage. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add quinoa and cook stirring for about a minute. Add water and cook for 15-20 minutes until quinoa has absorbed all the water and is cooked.
Set Instant Pot to "sauté" and add vegetable oil. Add sage leaves and cook until crisp, turning once, about 3-4 minutes. Set to drain on a paper towel lined plate.
Add onion, garlic, squash, broth, salt and pepper to IP, close lid with venting set to "sealed". Set to high pressure for 4 minutes. Once done, use the "quick release" valve to release steam. Turn IP off. Add beans and lemon juice, stir to combine.
In batches blend contents of pot. (Hold down blender kid with a tea towel; hot liquid can pop the lid off.) Return blended soup to IP or a different pot and keep warm while making quinoa.
Add quinoa, water, thyme, sage, salt and pepper. Close lid with venting set to "sealed". Cook at high pressure for 1 minute and use the "quick release" valve to release steam. Carefully fluff with a fork.
Place a large spoonful of quinoa in the bottom of bowls and top with soup and crispy sage leaves.