This cheerfully colored soup brings you a hint of sweetness and the pleasant crunch of turnips. Once you’ve got the squash baked, the rest is a snap.

　　

Ingredients

6 servings

　　1 large butternut squash, about 2 pounds

　　2 tablespoons olive oil or fragrant nut oil (such as walnut)

　　1 large red onion, quartered and thinly sliced

　　3 cups water

　　1 cup freshly squeezed or good-quality orange juice

　　2 cups frozen green peas, thawed

　　3 to 4 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced

　　1 teaspoon good-quality curry powder

　　1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

　　1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

　　Pinch of ground nutmeg

　　2 medium turnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice

　　Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Halve the squash lengthwise and place cut side up in a foil-lined shallow baking dish. Cover with more foil. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until soft. This step can be done as much as a day ahead of time.

　　

Step 2

When the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out and discard the seeds and fibers. Scoop the flesh away from the skin and transfer to a food processor.

　　

Step 3

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until golden, stirring frequently. Remove half of the onion and set aside. Transfer the remaining half to the food processor, and process with the squash until the mixture is smoothly pureed.

　　

Step 4

Transfer the puree to the soup pot. Add the water and the orange juice and stir together. Bring to a gentle simmer, then add the remaining ingredients except the last two and the reserved onion. Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.

　　

Step 5

Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add the turnips and sauté over medium-high heat until touched with golden spots, stirring frequently.

　　

Step 6

Stir the turnips and reserved onion into the soup. Season with salt and pepper. If needed, adjust the consistency with more water or orange juice, then adjust the seasonings. The soup should have a thick but flowing consistency. Simmer very gently for 5 minutes longer.

　　

Step 7

Serve at once, or if time allows, let the soup stand off the heat for an hour or two. Heat through before serving.

　　

Nutrition Information

Step 8

Per serving:

　　

Step 9

Calories: 213

　　

Step 10

Total fat: 5g

　　

Step 11

Protein: 6g

　　

Step 12

Fiber: 11g

　　

Step 13

Carbohydrate: 40g

　　

Step 14

Cholesterol: 0mg

　　

Step 15

Sodium: 95mg

　　Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons