Heavy rain was forecasted for the San Francisco bay area today, I think there was way too much media hype about this storm. It frightened everyone, they even closed the schools. This is how winter used to be before the drought of the last three years. A tree came down at the end of our street and there is some minor flooding in the neighborhood because of fallen leaves in the storm drains. It’s a perfect day for staying in and making soup.

I’ve wanted to make this recipe for some time; it is adapted from one in the cookbook “plum gorgeous” by Romney Steele. The original recipe calls for a medium butternut or kabocha squash, and curry powder. As usual, I ended up improvising. I couldn’t find the curry powder (the spice drawer needs a major overhaul) and my fridge only had 2 cups of cut-up butternut squash, not enough. I wasn’t about to brave the storm for a trip to the grocery store. I used the butternut and added 2 small sweet potatoes. As a substitute for the curry powder, I used Ras el Hanout. It’s a spice blend I purchased a few weeks ago from the Oaktown Spice Shop. You’ll find a link to their website here. If you get a chance to visit, don’t miss it. It’s heavenly just walking in the door, the aromas are amazing! Ras el Hanout is a custom blend of paprika, cumin, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, cassia, turmeric, grains of paradise, allspice, nutmeg, mace and cayenne. Wow! They recommend using it to season chicken, lamb tagines, or scent rice. Using the curry powder suggested in the initial recipe would also be excellent. Mine eventually turned up in the back of the drawer, too late for the soup.

To make this recipe vegan, I used coconut water instead of chicken broth and added a cup of coconut milk at the end for richness. It ended up being both warming and delicious, perfect for a stormy day.

Pear and butternut squash soup

Pear, Butternut Squash, and Sweet Potato Soup

• 2 cups cubed butternut or other squash
• 2 small sweet potatoes
• 2 large or 3 small pears, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons of Ras el Hanout or curry powder
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, skinned and finely grated
• 4 cups of coconut water or vegetable broth
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cut the squash into large chunks and arrange in a baking pan, cut side down. Prick the sweet potatoes and add them to the pan (cut them in half if large). Add about ¼ cup of water to the pan, drizzle with coconut oil, and roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour. They should be soft.
3. Cool, then scoop out the flesh into a bowl.
4. Heat 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil in a heavy pot. Add the onion, carrot and garlic and cook on medium heat until lightly browned and soft. Do not let the garlic burn.
5. Stir in the Ras el Hanout or curry powder and fresh ginger. Mix with the vegetables for about 30 seconds, until aromatic.
6. Add the squash, sweet potato, pears, coconut water or stock, and ½ teaspoon of salt to the pot.
7. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 25 minutes until the vegetables and pears are soft.
8. Puree in the blender or with an immersion blender.
9. Add the coconut milk and gently reheat, thin with water or stock if needed.
10. Serve garnished with chopped cilantro.

Pear and Butternut Squash Soup

This soup was perfect, a little sweet but with a spicy kick.

I think the folks at Gluten Free Fridays will like this one since it is both gluten free and vegetarian. Come see what else is cooking.