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Writer's picturebrkt-ברקט

Butternut Squash and Celery Soup

This soup turned out to be a bit of a surprise. I decided to leave out any sort of thickening agent like potatoes or rice. I expected the soup to be quite thin and in need of the some TLC, but because of the double shot of chili it was exactly the right texture - deceptively smooth until the jalapeño hits the palette.

BT's Spicy Butternut Squash and Celery Soup


Ingredients:

For Soup:

1 small butternut squash

1 small pumpkin

4 large ribs celery with leaves

1 small leek

2 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 teaspoon harissa

1-2 jalapeño (according to heat tolerance)

1/4 teaspoon caraway seed

1/4 teaspoon fennel seed

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon celery seed

2 tablespoons Arak (optional - any sort of anisette)

1/2 teaspoon sugar

6 cups (1.5 l) water

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon kosher salt

ground black pepper


For Herb Oil:

3 sprigs fresh mint

3 sprigs fresh oregano

2 sprigs fresh dill

1 medium cucumber (aka Israeli cucumber, Persian cucumber, Japanese cucumber)

1 tablespoon fruity olive oil


Directions:

For Soup:

Heat oven to 375 F. (190 C.)

Plate butternut squash and pumpkin in baking dish and roast for 45 minutes

Remove seeds and scrape flesh into a bowl

Add vegetable oil to heavy gauge cocotte and turn flame to medium low

Add caraway seed, fennel seed, cloves and celery seed and sauté 1 minute

Turn flame to medium

Add harissa

Rough chop leek and celery and add to pot

Sauté 3-4 minutes or until leek is translucent

Slice jalapeño in rings (seeds and veins included) and add to pot

Add Arak (if using)

Add salt, sugar and water

Bring to boil and add squash and pumpkin

Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes

Remove from heat and let cool

Purée soup with wand blender

Add lemon juice

Add 3 -4 grinds black pepper

Taste for salt


For Herb Oil:

Fine chop dill, mint and fresh oregano

In a small bowl mix herbs with olive oil

Dice cucumber into small pieces and add to oil mix

Leave to marinate approximately 1 hour


Serve cold or hot with 1 teaspoon of herb oil


Enjoy! !בתיאבון







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