Roasted butternut squash and chilli soup

This delicious soup is perfect for a chilly winter’s day. It’s like a hug in a bowl! Butternut squash is low in fat, full of potassium, vitamin C and B vitamins as well as having high levels of beta carotene which converts to vitamin A and has been identified as helping to prevent breast cancer. Chillis have up to seven times the amount of vitamin C as an orange and they aid digestion, relieve migraines and joint and muscle pain. Onions and garlic are powerful immune boosters and the addition of coconut milk gives you a soothing, warming bowl of soup that will leave your body feeling very happy.

Ingredients:

  • 1 butternut squash, peeled and deseeded
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
  • 1 or 2 red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 600ml hot vegetable stock
  • 200ml coconut milk (light, if you are watching calorie intake)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Coriander to serve

Method:

  1. Heat oven to 200 degrees.
  2. Cut the squash into large cubes and pop into a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for 30- 40 mins, turning once during cooking, until golden and soft.
  3. Whilst the squash is baking, heat up a drizzle of olive oil in a pan and gently cook the onions, garlic and chilli until soft
  4. Once the butternut squash is cooked, add it to the pan along with the stock and coconut milk.
  5. Whizz up with a stick blender until smooth (or pop it into a food processor if you prefer your soup with no bits)
  6. Heat it through and season well with salt and pepper
  7. Serve with a sprinkle of coriander