I had some roasted squash soup as a special at Foxley in the fall. It was so delicious, I set out to make some myself the very next day. The recipe has taken some practice and I did ask chef Tom Thai for tips-the key is to rest the squash after it was roasted. The kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass impart such a nice balance with the rich coconut milk above the delicious roasted squash base.
1 buttercup squash
1 butternut squash
1 apple, peeled, cored and diced
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons coconut oil
handful of kaffir lime leaves
1 stalk of lemongrass, cut into pieces
4-6 cups vegetable stock
1 can full fat coconut milk
butternut and buttercup squash ready for roasting-2 types add depth of flavour
Wash the squash in warm water thoroughly. Usually squash are hard to cut through, so I throw them in the oven for 10-15 minutes whole to soften. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (soften up the squash as well).
Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds and rub with a little coconut or olive oil. Roast squash in a baking dish for 45-60 minutes. Leave in oven to ‘rest’ for a couple hours or until cool.
Depending on the softness of the squash, you can scoop out the flesh in chunks or peel the skin and cut into chunks.
In a large pot, heat coconut oil over medium heat and saute the onion and apple until softened. Add the squash, vegetable broth, lime leaves, and lemongrass. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the lime leaves and lemongrass. Puree with an immersion blender. Season with salt and stir in coconut milk until blended. Enjoy!
