Butternut Squash and
Thai Coconut Milk Soup
One medium size squash serves 2 - 3
Sometimes the simplest recipes, with only a few ingredients, are the
best. The flavors are clear and uncluttered. This is one of those
recipes. It may appear to be too simple to entice you, but give it a try and then draw your
conclusions. It's low cal and very easy to prepare. The coconut milk gives
this dish a Thai flavor, but no Thai chilies are used , so it's not a spicy dish. Don't omit the "crunchies" -- they're an important
part.
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Ingredients Soup
Crunchies
Salad
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Soup:
Cut the whole butternut squash in half lengthwise.
Scoop out the seeds and place (cut side down) on a flat baking dish lined
with aluminum foil (for easy clean up).
Roast the squash in a 375º oven for about one hour.
Remove when soft and let cool.
Peel and cut into chunks.
Heat one 14 oz. can of Thai coconut milk in a saucepan,
being careful not to scorch the bottom of the pan or let the milk
"bubble up".
In a blender, puree the warm coconut milk and
roasted butternut squash in batches . Remove each batch to a large bowl.
Add enough chicken or vegetable broth to thin the soup to
your desired consistency. (It should be thick, but should flow off the
spoon easily.)
Place in a deep saucepan and bring to hot when ready to serve.
Thai Crunchies:
Crispy Fried Shallots
Slice about 3 -4 shallots very thinly.
Set the thin slices out to dry on a paper towel for about 1 - 2 hours (optional).
Deep fry in hot (but not too hot) vegetable oil. (This will take about 5 minutes if your oil is the right temperature.)
Watch for burning edges and move the shallots frequently to get even browning.
Drain on paper towel and immediately put into an air tight container. (The fried shallots will keep at least a week in an air tight container so you might consider making a few extra! They're great on anything!!!)
Toasted Shredded Coconut
Toss a handful of shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened are both OK in this recipe) on a baking sheet and bake in a 350º oven for about 10 minutes. WATCH CAREFULLY. The coconut can easily burn. Stir it frequently. Remove from the oven when lightly brown. It will brown more after it is removed from the oven.
Store in an airtight container when cool. It will keep for one week or more.
Chopped Cilantro
Wash a handful of fresh cilantro (also known as coriander or Chinese parsley). Remove leaves from stem and discard stems.
Chop leaves and set aside.
Thai Salad Dressing:
2 tsp Thai fish sauce
1 TBS lime juice (fresh or bottled)
2 TBS sweet Thai chili sauce
4 TBS olive oil
Place all of these ingredients in a bottle and shake well to blend. Pour over mixed greens and toss well.
Serving:
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