About 6-8 servings
Ingredients:
Olive Oil
1-2 cloves of garlic, peeled & diced
1 medium yellow onion chopped
1 small red jalapeno pepper cleaned, chopped (no seeds)
2 tsp finely chopped fresh ginger
2 tsp red curry paste (more to taste)
2 tsp light brown sugar
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2 cups of vegetable or chicken stock (low sodium)
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk (low fat)
Salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper
Fresh cilantro (about a handful, chopped)
Juice from 2 lime wedges
Instructions:
In a large soup pot over medium heat, gently sauté vegetables in olive oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in curry paste and brown sugar and cook additional 1 minute.
Stir in squash, broth and coconut milk and bring to boil. Reduce heat and add black pepper, cayenne pepper and salt to taste. Let mixture simmer for about 30 minutes or until squash is soft. Use a masher to remove lumps from soup (or put into a blender or food processor to puree).
Add cilantro and lime juice to soup prior to serving.
Cooking Tips:
- Butternut squash is best in the fall when this vegetable comes into season.
- When selecting, look for squash that has a deeper colored skin. That means the flesh inside is a beautiful deep color, the nutrients are at their peak and the flavor will be better.
- Look for squash with a long neck – they’re easier to peel than ones with a short neck and large bulb.
David H. Rahm, M.D. is the founder and medical director of The Wellness Center, a medical clinic located in Long Beach, CA. Dr. Rahm is also president and medical director of VitaMedica. Dr. Rahm is one of a select group of conventional medical doctors who have education and expertise in functional medicine and nutritional science. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Rahm has published articles in the plastic surgery literature and educated physicians about the importance of good peri-operative nutrition.
