Archive for winter squash

Recipe: Roasted Squash Soup

December 21, 2011

Roasted Squash Soup

Last night, Dennis & I attended our neighborhood Crime Watch Patrol pot-luck dinner. I made a delicious roasted squash soup that became quite a hit. In response to the requests for the recipe, I am posting the following “non-recipe” recipe. You’ll understand why I am calling it a “non-recipe” in a moment.

Ingredients:

  • winter squash
  • onions
  • olive oil &/0r coconut oil (you can use butter or any other oil you choose)
  • coconut milk (if possible, please use organic coconut milk.)
  • water &/or vegetable or chickenbroth
  • sea salt
  • black pepper
  • red pepper flakes
  • saffron seasoning powder
  • curry seasoning powder

Notice that you don’t see any amounts listed. That’s why it’s a “non-recipe”. You can decide exactly how much of each ingredient you want to add. I made a HUGE pot of soup (4 quarts). For that amount of soup, I used 2 medium sized butternut squash, three large acorn squash and two very large onions. I also used a full can of coconut milk. I also used water instead of the vegetable or chicken broth).

Here is the method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400.
  2. Wash and cut each squash lengthwise.
  3. Remove the seeds. These can be washed and dried for later roasting, if you desire.
  4. Rub each piece of squash with a little bit of olive oil
  5. Place flesh side down onto a baking tray or Pyrex
  6. Roast until they are soft and easily punctured by a fork or toothpick. (Approximately 45 minutes)
  7. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool to room temperature.
  8. While the squash is in the oven, saute the onions (which have been chopped) in oilve oil and/or coconut oil (I use a combination) until they are caramelized.
  9. Allow the onions to cool to room temperature.
  10. Remove the flesh from the squash and add to a food processor or blender.
  11. Add the sauteed onions
  12. Add just enough water &/or vegetable broth to the blender or processor to make a thick, pourable paste.
  13. Transfer the contents into a soup pot and cook over a low flame.
  14. Add enough coconut milk to make it creamy. You can also add additional water and/or broth to make it the perfect consistency for YOU.
  15. Season with the sea salt, saffron powder, curry powder, red pepper flakes and black pepper (to taste).
  16. Allow it to simmer for at least 15 minutes so that the flavors can really shine through.
  17. Serve it hot and ENJOY!

Recipe: Thai-spiced Winter Squash Soup

November 15, 2011

Thai-spiced Winter Squash Soup

Serves 4-6.

  • 2 lbs. (1 kg) Winter squash – acorn, butternut, hubbard, turban, small pumpkins
  • 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • 1 14-ounce can coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon (or more) red Thai curry paste
water
  • 2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt (or to taste)
  • Water or vegetable stock to thin soup to desired consistency

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place the oven racks in the middle.

Carefully cut each squash/pumpkin into quarters. Scoop out seeds and fibrous material. Brush each piece of squash with butter or olive oil, sprinkle with salt, place skin sides down on a baking sheet, and put in the oven. Roast for an hour or until the squash is tender throughout.

When the squash are cool enough to handle, scoop it into a large pot over medium heat. Add the coconut milk and curry paste and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and puree with a hand blender, you should have a very thick base at this point. Now add water or vegetable stock one cup at a time pureeing between additions until the soup is desired consistency. Bring to a simmer again and add the salt and more curry paste if needed.

Note: Regarding the curry paste; add a little at a time then taste.  Curry pastes have differing strengths. Start with a teaspoon and add from there until the soup has a level of spiciness and flavor that works for you.

Food Focus: Winter Squash

November 10, 2011

Food Focus: Winter Squash

(This article appeared in the October 2011 issue of A Healthy You and was prepared as part of a collaborative effort with other IIN Health Coaches).)

As members of the Curcurbitaceae family, winter squash come in a multitude of sizes and colors. With hard shells, some have a shelf life of up to 6 months under proper storage conditions.

Some of the more common varieties are:

  • Acorn squash – distinct ribs run the length of its hard, blackish-green or golden-yellow skin, pale orange flesh that is sweet and slightly fibrous.
  • Butternut squash – beige color, shaped like a large bell or pear, deep orange flesh similar in flavor to sweet potato, sweet and slightly nutty flavor.
  • Delicata squash – also called peanut squash, creamy pulp that tastes a bit like corn and sweet potatoes.
  • Hubbard squash – extra-hard skins make them one of the best keeping winter squashes. Very large with blue-grey skin and dense flesh.
  • Kabocha squash – Kabocha is the generic Japanese word for squash, but refers most commonly to a squash of the buttercup type. This squash has a green, bluish-gray or a deep orange skin. The flesh is deep yellow.
  • Pumpkins – the smaller sugar variety are used for cooking, sweet orange flesh.
  • Spaghetti squash – A small, watermelon-shaped variety, golden-yellow oval rind. When cooked, the flesh separates in strands that resemble spaghetti pasta, mild nut-like flavor.
  • Turban squash – Named for its shape. Colors vary from bright orange, to green or white. It has golden-yellow flesh and its taste is reminiscent to hazelnut. Has a bulblike cap swelling from its blossom end.

Winter squash are a rich source of carotenes as well as an excellent source of vitamins C, folic acid and B1, potassium and dietary fiber.  When selecting winter squash, look for ones that feel heavy for their size and have dull hard rinds.  Due to their hard nature, winter squash are best baked.

Sources:

The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, Michael Murray N.D.

http://whatscookingamerica.net

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