1 blender or immersion stick blender or Italian food mill (passatutto).
Ingredients
The Soup
500gbutternut squash or pumpkin - cut into 2-3 cm chunks
2largesweet yellow onions
30-40gbutter
1generous tbspflour
1bay leaf
1sprigthymeoptional
250mlwhole milk or plant-based milk
250 -350mllight chicken, vegetable stock or ginger broth (see below)
scanttspsalt
olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
a few coriander or parsely leaves to garnish
1tspAleppo pepper or chill flakes to garnish
Turmeric and Ginger Butter
1tbspgrated gingeror tbsp juiced ginger
80gbutter
1-2clovesgrated garlic
Ginger Broth
2mediumonions rougly chopped (skins on)
2ribs celery with leaves
1largehandful broadleaf parsely
2mediumcarrots - roughly chopped
3-4roughy crushed garlic with skins on
3cmsfinely sliced fresh turmericoptional
5cmsfinely sliced fresh ginger
1cinnamon stick
2-3petalsstar anise
2tbspcoriander seeds
2tbsppeppercorns
2-3cloves
1bay leaf
2litreswater
fresh lemon juice and salt to season
Instructions
Ginger Broth
Add all the ingredients to a large saucepan, including the water, and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Strain and adjust seasoning with a bit of lemon juice and salt. You should have around one litre of stock
The Soup
Sauté the onions in a little butter and olive oil until soft. Add the diced pumpkin, bay leaf, thyme and salt. Toss in the buttery mixture and sprinkle with a tablespoon of flour. Do not add salt if your stock is salted.
Gently toss again and slowly pour in the milk. Set over a very low heat and cook until the pumpkin is soft. Stir occasionally.
Once ready, let the mixture cool (remove the bay and thyme) and then puree it with a stem mixer or blender, or pass it through an Italian food mill. Return to the heat and add your chosen stock until you achieve a good consistency. Bring to a quick boil and test for seasoning.
Ginger Butter
Meanwhile, make the ginger butter. Add the grated ginger and butter to a heavy-based pan and heat over medium heat until the butter has melted. If using ginger juice, add it once the butter starts to melt. Add a pinch of salt if necessary. For an added touch, you could then sauté a little garlic in the butter for a spicier zing. Pass it through a sieve before using.
To Serve
Swirl in a dash of the ginger butter, a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper, and garnish with fresh coriander or parsley. Accompanied by thinly sliced toasted wholemeal bread.