Roasted Pear, Ginger, and Squash Soup

Have you discovered winter squash? If so, try this delicious squash soup.


This winter soup comes from vegetarian chef and local food pioneer Deborah Madison. Her cookbook Vegetable Soups is full of simple recipes that highlight seasonal and nutritious vegetables. Although this soup takes several steps - roasting the squash and pears (which can be done a day ahead of time), cooking them, and finally pureeing the soup - none involve much from you. It's an easily made soup that will keep well for days. Serves 4 as a side dish.

Pear, ginger, squash soup

One 2 ½-pound butternut squash

Coconut or olive oil

3 pears (stems and seeds removed)

2” fresh ginger, thinly sliced

1 onion, thinly sliced

Water or vegetable stock

Sea salt

1.    Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cut the squash in half, scrape out the seeds and strings (save them if making optional stock), and then cut each half into thirds. Place on large baking dish or roasting pan with the cut pears and all but a few slices of ginger. Brush squash with oil, season with salt, and bake until fragrant and tender, about 40 to 60 minutes. Turn the pieces once or twice so that they have a chance to caramelize on more than one surface. Remove from oven and scoop out flesh once cool enough to handle.

2.    Heat coconut or olive oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and sauté until soft and browning. Add roasted pears, ginger, and squash, and 6 to 7 cups of water or vegetable stock.  Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Cool briefly, then puree until smooth. Serve with a drizzle of cream or coconut milk.

Optional:

While the squash is cooling, make your own stock of out the remaining squash, ginger and salt. Add 1 cup water to the empty squash pan and scrape to dissolve the juices from the squash.  Next, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add the squash seeds and stringy pulp, squash skins, the remaining ginger, and ½ teaspoon salt. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Strain before using in step two above.