Squash Soup Recipe

In Australia butternut squash is known as butternut pumpkin and is a type of winter squash. It's a fruit that grows on a vine, originates from around Mexico and is similar to a pumpkin, with a sweet, nutty taste with yellow skin and an orange pulp. As it gets riper it becomes increasingly orange as well as becoming increasingly richer and sweeter. Butternut squash is great as it's not only versatile - it's an excellent source of fibre, vitamin C, vitamin A, manganese and potassium. It can be roasted, toasted, grilled, pured, or mashed and used in soup, bread, casseroles, even muffins. Squash soup makes a great starter: it's heathy, easy to prepare and above all it's delicious. Below is a simple recipe that I hope you will enjoy!

Time from opening cupboards to serving: Half an hour, Serves four people

Ingredients: one fairly large butternut squash, a large onion, half a kilo of potatoes, fresh coriander leaves (these are optional), 35ml of olive oil, around 70ml of double cream, a cube of stock, pepper and a 1 inch cube of butter

1. Take the squash and chop off the stalk and flower. Peel with a potato peeler. Chop in half and use a spoon to remove all seeds. Chop into 1 inch cubes

2. Add the butter and oil to a large pan and slowly melt the butter thoroughly.

3. Peel & chop the onion. Fry it gently in the pan, with the lid on, until it starts to soften. Keep stirring and checking to make sure the onion doesn't brown.

4. Peel the skin off all the potatoes. Cut these into 1cm cubes and add to the onions. Make sure you stir them well to get them covered in oil.

5. Add the butternut squash. Stir well then cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

6. After ten minutes the potato should have started to get softer. At this point add the cube of stock to 1l of water, mix well, and add to the pan. Leave this simmering slowly until all the vegetables soften. This will take a 1/4 hour and during this time add water if necessary (making sure the veg are just covered)

7. It is optional to add the coriander but I would definitely recommend adding cream. Once added use a masher or blender to smooth the soup.

Thanks To : health juice