This is the best butternut squash soup that I have tried yet. It is so rich and delicious with complex flavors.
adapted from :Chef Cullingworth.
Ingredients:
Serves 4
1 small butternut squash, cleaned, peeled and diced
2 T. dark brown molasses sugar or dark brown sugar
2 T. honey
4 T. unsalted butter
1 ripe banana, unpeeled
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
2 small carrots, peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 tsp. medium hot curry powder
½ tsp. ground coriander seeds
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 c. coconut milk
2-3 c. chicken or vegetable stock
juice of 1 lime
kosher salt and freshly group black pepper to taste
garnish: fresh cilantro, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin oil,lime zest
Method:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt 2T butter and brown sugar and honey together.
Toss diced squash with brown sugar, honey and butter and roast in 400-degree oven until caramelized and soft to the touch, about 30 minutes; roast the unpeeled banana in the oven at the same time.Make sure and put foil under banana and spray baking pan with PAM for squash.
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 transluscent. Add the garlic, curry powder, coriander, nutmeg and cinnamon and cook slowly for a few more minutes.
Remove the banana from its skin, (be careful it is HOT) 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. Flavor with lime juice and salt and pepper to taste.
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 chopped fresh cilantro and lime zest. ( I didn't have pumpkin oil or seeds)
