Creamy Squash and Carrot Soup
Serves 4 – 6. Recipe adapted from Food Network.
Prep time: 15 minutes.
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 butternut squash, chopped
- 1/2 acorn squash, chopped
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 1 scallion, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper**
- 5 carrots, shredded and chopped
- 15 ounce can chick peas, drained
- 1 can (14 ounce) low-fat coconut milk
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup water
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (or other nuts)
- French bread, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces
**optional. I added it for heat, but you can omit.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line two large cookie sheets with foil. Place the squash and broccoli on the sheet (evenly distributed). Toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil. Roast for about 20 – 25 minutes, stopping to toss the vegetables after 10 minutes. You want the vegetables to be fork tender.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add the shallots and scallions and cook for about a minute. Mix in the ginger, garlic and crushed red pepper, heat for about another minute. Add in the carrots and cook until just softened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add in the chick peas, coconut milk, vegetable broth and water. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes.
- Mix in the 3/4 of the squash, saving about a one cup for the garnish. Cook for another 5 – 10 minutes, or until warm. Remove from heat. With either a tabletop blender or immersion blender, blend the soup until creamy. Serve with a handful of broccoli florets, remaining squash, pumpkin seeds and crispy bread.