SUZANNE'S EASIEST CURRIED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
This recipe has a lot of instructions, but it only takes about 20 minutes to make it. Also, butternut squash can be easily peeled with a regular vegetable peeler, if you make a nick in the hard skin to get is started.
2 Cups Butternut Squash, peeled and cubed
2 Granny Smith or other tart yellow apples, peeled and cubed (should be about the same amt. as squash)
1 Med. Sweet Onion, finely Chopped
1-2 teaspoons Curry Powder (adjust to your own tastes..I use more like 3 Tbsp.)
8-10 ounces chicken stock
1 Cup Soy Milk, cream* or milk*
2 Tbsp. ground nuts like pecans or hazelnuts (optional) 1/4 teaspoon Cardamom, Dash each of cinnamon, mace or nutmeg, allspice
Sea salt
Red Pepper flakes and/or black pepper, to taste
Place the squash, apples and onions in a medium sized skillet and saute (you can use oil or butter). Season with curry, salt, spices. Place mixture in 4 quart pot, add chicken stock and bring to a slow boil, lower heat and continue to cook on med heat until done...should be getting mushy but still have some substance. Take the pot off the heat and let the squash/apple/onion mixture cool slightly.
The soup will be chunky at this point. Puree. (I use an immersion blender but you can use a regular blender or handheld mixer.) Blend until it is the consistency you want. There is really no wrong way to make this, the consistency is up to you.If you want chunks, leave the chunks.
Half way thru the blending process, add the soymilk. (*If you choose to use cream or milk, you will need to let it cool considerably longer to prevend curdling.)
If you think the soup is too thick, you can add a little more water or stock if you like. The only important thing you need to do is cook the squash, apples and onions and add the spices. Everything else is up to your tastes.
Serve with a dash of red pepper if you like it hot. I also stir in some ground, toasted nuts for a little more nutrition and to create a richer dish. I serve this at our house with herbed biscuits or scones for a satisfying but simple meal. It is an especially nice winter lunch on a cold, gray day...looks like a bowl of sunshine.
