My weaknesses have always been food and men – in that order … Check This Amazing Recipe: Butternut squash soup with parsley purée

How to Make Butternut squash soup with parsley purée

Preparation time:

less than 30 mins

Cooking time:

10 to 30 mins

Serves:

Serves 6-8

Dietary:

Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 1.8kg/4lb wedges of butternut squash
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic
• 2 sprigs of thyme
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 onions
• 2 carrots
• 2 sticks celery
• 1 tbsp freshly chopped sage
• 2 litres/3½ pints hot vegetable stock

For the parsley purée

• 1 bunch flatleaf parsley
• 1 clove garlic
• 30g/1oz parmesan
• 100ml/3½fl oz extra virgin olive oil
• Lemon juice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 240C/475F/Gas 9.

2. Cut the butternut squash (including skin) into 7cm/3in wedges and scoop out the seeds using a large spoon. Brush the wedges with 1 tbsp olive oil, place in a roasting tray and season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 45 minutes or until soft and caramelised.

3. After 25 minutes of cooking, add the unpeeled garlic and the sprigs of thyme.

4. Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil in a large pan. Add the onions, carrots, celery, sage and remaining garlic and cook gently for 10-15 minutes until soft but not brown.

5. Pour the stock into the vegetables, bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

6. Allow the squash to cool for 5 minutes when cooked. Using a large spoon remove the flesh from the skin and add to the stock. Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skin into the stock and discard the thyme.

7. Simmer the stock and vegetables for a further 5 minutes or until the squash is beginning to break up.

8. Place the soup in a blender and blend until smooth. Return the soup to the pan and gently reheat. Check seasoning.

9. For the parsley purée, place the chopped parsley into a food processor with the garlic and parmesan. Process until smooth. With the motor still running, slowly add the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

10. Ladle the soup into bowls and top each with a spoonful of the parsley purée. Serve immediately with crusty bread.