I feared cooking  squash. The kind of fear that you have of the unknown. This was unchartered culinary territory for me. You see, growing up in Pakistan, the closest I came to eating,never mind cooking, this fruit was the Lauki or  gourd. They all come from the same Cucurbitaceae family. Members include the pumpkin, squash, zucchini,watermelon and various melons.Even good old cucumber is related!

As I became more conscious of what I put inside my body, the  list of fruits and vegetables I consumed grew. There was no way I could ignore the squash any longer. It is such a big part of life here in the U.S!

Of course the  benefits of this amazing fruit were not lost on me.

Squash

Potassium

This nutrient is extremely important in maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is responsible for the growth of bodily tissues. This includes the skin and hair.

Fiber

Studies have shown that high fiber foods boost ones immune system as well as decrease inflammation.

Eating squash then, is great for your hair and complexion and helps prevent inflammation-related conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and even cancer!

There are many ways you can enjoy squash but today I have for you a recipe that will see you through this fall, well into winter:)

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

 

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Prep time

40 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

 

Simple no fuss butternut soup. So good for you and delicious too!

Author: Zeeshan

Recipe type: Soup

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash (roasted)
• 1 large white onion (roughly chopped)
• I package vegetable stock (I used Pacific Organic)
• 3-4 cloves garlic
• ½ inch knob ginger (peeled)
• 1 small stick cinnamon
• 2-3 peppercorn
• 1 clove
• 1 tsp salt or to taste
• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Cut squash vertically down the middle
2. Coat with a thin layer of olive oil
3. Roast in preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes
4. Meanwhile prep the onions
5. Once roasted scoop out the flesh of the squash and add it to a pan with the onions and the rest of the ingredients
6. Let cook about 30 mins or so
7. Let cool and blend to combine fully (make sure to take out the spices before blending-or leave them in there if you like the heat!)

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Did You Know?

It is said that squash was one of  The Prophet Mohammad’s (pbuh) favorite food. He would seek it out in a dish.

Also good to know is that after Prophet Yunus (pbuh) was thrown out of the whale’s stomach, it was the gourd that he was instructed to eat and treat his skin rash with.

I had fun getting to know this fruit. My next adventure? Pumpkin pie:)