With winter approaching fast I couldn’t wait to make my first pot of soup to comfort the cold! I just love soup - from vegetable and pea to potato but my all time favourite is butternut soup. It definitely inspires me on a cold rainy winters day!
Quite often I watch programmes on the FoodNetwork.
I am especially inspired and love Ina Garten’s programme Barefoot Contessa.
Catch it on FoodNetwork (channel 185) weekdays at 8h55 and 16h00 or have a look on her website for more http://www.barefootcontessa.com/
She hosts the show from her beautiful house in the Hamptons. Her recipes are easy, full of flavour and she always encourages you to use the best quality ingredients you can find/afford.
A few days ago I saw an episode where Ina made a Roasted Butternut Squash Soup.
Yesterday I had a go at the recipe that I got from her website and WOW! It was the most delicious Butternut Soup I have had (not even to say “made myself). This recipe is so good I just have to share it with you! It is so easy to make!
You’ll need:
3 –4 pounds Butternut, peeled and seeded
2 onions
2 McIntosh Apples (any Red apple would do)
3 tablespoons of good Olive Oil
Salt and Freshly ground Black Pepper
2 – 4 cups of good quality Chicken Stock
½ teaspoon good Curry Powder
Preheat the oven to 180°C
Cut the Butternut, Onions and apples into cubes that are all the same size. Place it on a sheet pan and toss it with the Olive Oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ a teaspoon pepper. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and tender.
Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock to a simmer. Take the vegetables out of the oven when they are done and place it in batches through a food processor. Add some of the Chicken Stock and coarsely purée. When all of the vegetables are processed, place it in a large pot and add enough/the rest of the stock to make a think soup. Add the Curry Powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Taste to make sure there’s enough seasoning. Heat and serve!
Ina serves the soup with some condiments like Scallions, Banana, Roasted Salted Cashews and Flaked sweetened Coconut.
I just served it with a few slices of good toasted Garlic Bread.
It is just awesome!! Have a warm, inspiring and comforting winter ahead!
(Pictures of Ina and her house from House Beautiful Magazine, Original Photographs by Simon Upton, these images were scanned on http://www.barefootcontessa.com/)
(Pictures of my soup taken by me)
