Butternut & Orange Soup - Recipe

Ingredients:

1 kg Butternut Diced
4 tbsp Olive Oil (divided, 3 + 1)
1 tsp Brown Sugar Optional
1 tsp Salt
½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
½ tsp Ground Ginger
¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg
¼ tsp Ground Allspice
1 Pinch of ground cloves
1 Clove of garlic Crushed
5 Fresh sage leaves Or ½ tsp dried sage/dried mixed herbs
1 Juice of 1 Large orange
3-4 Cups Vegetable Stock
125 ml Fresh cream or coconut cream Optional
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

Cut the butternut into dice sized pieces, then add to a large baking dish with 3 tablespoons of olive oil

Season with salt and the brown sugar if using. Blend the spices together, then sprinkle over the butternut and mix through until evenly coated

Roast for 25 – 30 minutes until the pumpkin and carrots start turning tender and roasty

When the butternut is roasted, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the crushed garlic to a large pot and bring to medium heat for the garlic to soften, then add the roasted butternut and mix through

Next, add the sage leaves (or dried herbs) and the orange juice, then top with the vegetable stock, covering the pumpkin completely

Cook on medium heat for around 15 minutes. You want a steady simmer not a rolling boil and you can add a lid if you wish

When cooked, remove the whole sage leaves, remove the soup from the heat and blend until smooth, either using a hand/stick (immersion) blender or a standard blender

Note: If using a standard blender, remember to remove the middle section from the lid to prevent the steam building up and causing an 'explosion'
If the soup becomes too thick while blending, add a little boiling water or cream

Return to the pot and set on the stove again (I do not usually turn the heat on as the residual heat is usually enough to keep the soup warm. If not, or if you have prepped the soup early, heat through on a low temperature)

If using cream, add it now, then taste and season with salt and pepper as needed
Serve hot with some crusty bread and toppings of your choice

Recipe by Vanessa Vermaak @ My homemade Kitchen