Last week my Aunt Vicki was in town from California. Predictably, I took her to Riverview Orchards for cider donuts and to Mrs. London’s for almond croissants. When we weren’t out and about, we sat at home, sipping lemon-ginger tea, flipping through cookbooks at the kitchen table. One night Vicki spotted this recipe in the new SkinnyTaste cookbook, and we then made it three times before she left. It couldn’t be simpler: chop up an apple (no need to peel), a few carrots (no need to peel), an onion or a leek, and a peeled butternut squash. You throw all of these vegetables in a slow cooker with some water (or stock) and let it cook for 4 to 8 hours. When it’s time to serve, plunge in your immersion blender and purée with some coconut milk. That’s it! I’m always tempted to add curry powder or curry paste to squash soups, but I find the flavors here so pure—the apple and carrots provide a touch of sweetness, the coconut milk a hint of richness. I’ve yet to try making the soup with stock, because it doesn’t seem necessary—after 4 or 8 hours of simmering, the water essentially becomes a vegetable stock. We served the soup with bread, of course, and simple salads: one night this black bean and sweet potato salad, another a shaved Brussels sprout salad with an anchovy dressing, and another night Swiss chard with lemon and breadcrumbs. There’s no need to expound the virtues of a slow cooker, but sometimes using one really feels like a miracle. Three times last week, dinner was nearly done before the kids had left for school. This made the days relaxed and the evenings leisurely. Last Friday night before heading out to the Union hockey game, we all sat down for soup and salad. There was no scramble, no stress, and we still arrived with 5 minutes to spare—the biggest miracle of all. PS: ALL the Soup Recipes here PPS: How To Be a More Efficient Soup Maker. Here’s the play-by-play:
How to Make Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
First, gather your vegetables: Add the coarsely chopped, unpeeled apples and carrots to a slow cooker. Peel the butternut squash and onion, and add them, too: Simmer for 4 to 8 hours; then purée with a bit of coconut milk: Serve with lots of bread on the side. A crispy leek garnish is a nice touch, too: 5 from 8 reviews Notes: I’ve made this with as much as 2.5 lbs. of butternut squash post peeling. I’ve never made this with chicken or vegetable stock—I’ve only used water—but I imagine either of those stocks would add even more flavor. The leek garnish is delicious but totally optional—confession: I never actually made it until it was time to take photos. If you don’t have a slow-cooker, I think you could make this stovetop—simmer everything until the squash and carrots are cooked through. With a faster cooking time, I would suggest using vegetable or chicken stock.
