Butternut Squash Thai Coconut Soup
Recently I have been making big batches of soup simply because they are quick and easy to make, can be made in large volumes, freeze well and make perfect healthy lunches to take to work.
As I stared at my butternut squash and wondered what kind of soup to make with it. Would it be a straight up uncomplicated butternut squash soup or something with a bit of a kick like curried butternut squash soup. But no it was neither of those as I fancied something a little bit different.
And since I had some coconut milk in the cupboard screaming to be used I just knew that it had to feature in this soup and I’m so glad that it did.
*Butternut Squash Thai Coconut Soup*
Ingredients (vegetarian, makes 3 large portions)
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1 large butternut squash
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1 medium sized onion
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1 thumb sized piece of ginger minced
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1 clove of garlic minced
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1/2 tsp of dried chilli flakes (optional but advised)
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juice of 1 lime
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1/2 a can of light coconut milk
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vegetable stock
Firstly, roast the butternut squash in the oven on a medium setting. When making soup I usually do this the lazy way by sticking the whole squash in the oven without peeling it. This way the skin is easier to remove and the flesh of the squash becomes nice and soft. Once the squash is cooked through and prepared set aside.
In a pan in a little cooking oil, sauté the onions on a low heat and cook until softened. Added the garlic and ginger and cook for a further 2 minutes minding that the garlic doesn’t burn.
Place the cooked butternut squash, onions, ginger and garlic into a blender. Add the coconut milk, lime juice and vegetable stock. The amount of vegetable stock that you will add will vary depending on our desired consistency and the quality of your blender.
Blend the ingredients together until smooth and return to a pan warm through for a further 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, add all of the ingredients to a pan and blend using a hand held blender.
Serve and enjoy!
This is definitely one of the best soups that I have ever made. Although I am a stickler for anything with coconut milk in it! 
I’m so glad that I made a huge batch to stock up my freezer, which should keep me going for a while.
What is your favourite way you use butternut squash?
Do you have any alternative ways to use it in a soup?
WIAW…My favourite ways
Hello loves! I hope you all had fun yesterday eating yummy pancakes because I know I certainly did. ;D
It was such a great day yesterday not just because of the pancakes, but I also got to go to an opening evening at a bridal shop close to my house and look at some pretty dresses. There is so many to choose from, but I know what style that I like, but have yet to come across “the one.”
This months WIAW theme ROCKS!
For this week’s WIAW I want to go back to Monday again. I always seem to have more time to spend on making up meals on Monday for some reason. Now this Monday I ate a lot of my favourite foods and at every meal they were made in my favourite ways to eat them. So I thought it would be a good post for WIAW…
Breakfast.
On this particular morning I fancied a bowl of Kashi Go Lean cereal. I’m really loving my cereal at the moment.
![IMG_1481[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_14811.jpg "IMG_1481[1]")
My favourite way to eat my cereal is with lots of fruit, almond milk and nut butter. On this particular occasion the chosen fruit were pears and a banana with dried mixed berries and nut butter of choice was almond butter of course!
Snackage.
I had made some roasted chickpeas very early on that morning and just couldn’t stop eating them.
![IMG_1486[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_14861.jpg "IMG_1486[1]")
I roasted them in some strawberry balsamic vinegar, rock salt and mixed herbs I love it when the shells on the chickpeas go crunchy, but are still soft in the centre. Roasting chickpeas is fast becoming my favourite way to eat them except in hummus form that is…Sabra hummus anyone?
Lunch.
Also on Monday morning (a seemingly productive morning!) I also made some soup for lunches for work this week.
![IMG_1497[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_14971.jpg "IMG_1497[1]")
Butternut Squash Thai Coconut Soup to be exact- recipe to come! This tasted incredible! Definitely one of the best soups that I have made since I started blogging so I cannot wait to share the recipe.
My favourite way to eat soup is straight up, no frills, just plain and simple. I like to taste all of the ingredients in my soup and hate it when soups become too fancy and all of the flavours just become one. The simpler the better!
Snackage.
![IMG_1516[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_15161.jpg "IMG_1516[1]")
How do I like to eat my apples? Pink Lady’s always. Lots of nut butter for dipping. This time I made a peanut flour sauce and mixed in some cinnamon…a-ma-zing!
Dinner.
Veggie Heaven- in keeping with this months WIAW them obviously!
![IMG_1526[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_15261.jpg "IMG_1526[1]")
Since I had a load of veggies in my fridge that I needed to use up I decided to make them the main feature for my dinner. My favourite way to eat my veggies is stir fried.
A simple, quick and easy meal in minutes. I cooked kale, Chinese leaf, carrots, red pepper and mushrooms to a sauce made from char sui sauce, soy sauce, black rice vinegar and ginger. The addition of marinated tofu soaked in soy sauce and sesame oil made this extra special and I added cashews for added crunch and protein. Definitely one of my favourite types of meals which I go back to time and time again.
Dessert.
![IMG_1525[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_15251.jpg "IMG_1525[1]")
My favourite kind of chocolate is the kind that comes with love and kisses.
Well there are a lot of favourites in this post. Another favourite way of eating chocolate is with a huge mug of tea. So don’t forget to enter my fab Pukka Herb tea giveaway for your chance to win a selection of their winter teas.
What is your favourite way to eat any of the above, cereal, vegetables, chocolate, chickpeas, apples and soup?
What is the best thing that you have eaten today?
Happy WIAW my friends!
Happy Pancake Day!
After my gym workout this morning I whipped up the perfect refuel breakfast…
![IMG_1533[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_15331.jpg "IMG_1533[1]")
![IMG_1534[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_15341.jpg "IMG_1534[1]")
Obviously it had to be pancakes considering it’s Pancake Day! I made my Chocolate Spelt Pancakes, but this time I used the new chocolate flavoured Kara coconut milk in place of soya milk and also used soya flour instead as I was out of spelt.
![IMG_1531[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_15311.jpg "IMG_1531[1]")
They were simply gorgeous! I topped them with almond butter, chocolate hazelnut sauce using Justin’s nut butter and added mixed frozen fruit and a chopped banana.
![IMG_1540[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_15401.jpg "IMG_1540[1]")
I wish it was Pancake Day everyday!
Of course the perfect acompliment to pancakes is tea! I made a huge mug of Pukka Herbs Revitalise tea, which I have practically living off recently after receiving a lovely selection of winter teas from Pukka Herbs to try.
![IMG_1547[1]](http://celeryandcupcakes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_15471.jpg "IMG_1547[1]")
I received boxes of Revitalise, Liquorice and Cinnamon and Three Ginger. I have really enjoyed all of the flavours that I have been sent. The ginger flavoured teas have been great for sniffly noses and a cold. The Revitalise tea a much needed afternoon pick me up or a good way to give yourself an energy boost in the morning. There is a tea for every mood and anytime of day in the Pukka Herb tea range.
I’m a big fan of herbal teas and Pukka Herbs is one of the brands that I tend to buy. Their blend of herbs and flavour combinations are second to none. The herbs used in their teas are all organically grown and are fair traded. Their collection of teas spans a vast range of different flavours so there is something for all.
Another great thing is that they are readily available and can be sourced in major supermarkets and health food stores, priced at approximately £2.25 for 20 teabags.
Luckily as on of my blog sponsors for January the lovely people over at Pukka Herbs have given me 4 sets of teas to giveaway, which includes boxes of Revitalise, Liquorice and Cinnamon and Three Ginger teas.
To win the opportunity to taste these tasty teas then please…
- leave a comment on this post stating what is your favourite flavour of tea
- follow and tweet about this giveaway ensuring that @celery_cupcakes is in the tweet!
- like Celery and Cupcakes on Facebook
- link back to this giveaway in a blog post
Each action counts as one entry so please make sure that you remember to leave a separate comment for each giveaway entry. This is because I only count the number of comments made on the giveaway as an equivalent to the number of entries- I would hate to miss any!
The giveaway is open to everyone and ends on Monday 27th February 12 pm GMT with the winner to be announced the following day.
