Cooked comfort soup

[Guest guest]

African Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:Serves 6 - 8

1 butternut squash, cleaned, peeled and diced2 T. dark brown molasses sugar or dark brown sugar2 T. honey4 T. unsalted butter1 ripe banana, unpeeled½ medium onion, peeled and chopped1 carrot, peeled and chopped1 celery stalk, peeled and chopped1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped1 tsp. medium hot curry powder½ tsp. ground coriander seeds¼ tsp. ground nutmeg¼ tsp. ground cinnamon1 c. coconut milk1 c. chicken or vegetable stock, plus extrajuice of 1 limekosher salt and freshly group black pepper to tastegarnish: fresh cilantro, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin oilMethod:Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Sprinkle diced squash with brown sugar, honey and 2 tablespoons butter and roast in 350-degree oven until caramelized and soft to the touch, about 20 minutes; roast the unpeeled banana in the oven at the same time.Melt the other 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan on medium-low heat and sweat the onion, celery and carrot for a few minutes until tender and onion is translucent. Add the garlic, curry powder, coriander, nutmeg and cinnamon and cook slowly for a few more minutes.Remove the banana from its skin, slice and add it with the butternut and its juices to the pan, along with the coconut milk and chicken (or veggie) broth. Simmer until hot. Remove from heat and ladle the soup into blender in small batches. Blend the soup in a blender until smooth. Adjust to consistency desired with more broth, if necessary. Add fresh cilantro, lime juice and salt and pepper to taste. Blend again until smooth and if you want a very delicate soup, pass the soup through a chinois or household strainer using a rubber spatula to press the soup through the strainer. The soup should be served hot, so return to stovetop and gently reheat if necessary. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with a drizzle of pumpkin seed oil, a few toasted pumpkin seeds and a sprig of fresh cilantro.

Gayla Always Enough RanchAcampo, Californiahttp://bouncinghoofs.com/alwaysenough.htmlaeranch@...