Substitute other available squashes or even pumpkin if you can’t find butternut. Toss leftover spicy pumpkin seeds into a salad, or enjoy them on their own as a snack.

　　

Ingredients

Serves 4

　　2 tablespoons butter

　　1 small onion, chopped

　　1 piece (2 inches) peeled fresh ginger, chopped

　　2 garlic cloves, chopped

　　2 3/4 pounds small butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, and flesh cut into 3/4-inch cubes

　　1/4 cup fresh orange juice

　　Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

　　Sour cream (optional)

　　Spicy Pumpkin Seeds (optional; recipe below)

　　

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

1 cup raw green pumpkin seeds

　　1 teaspoon chili powder

　　1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

　　1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

　　2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

　　

Step 1

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the ginger, garlic, and squash; cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat. Simmer until the squash is tender, about 20 minutes.

　　

Step 2

Purée the soup in two batches. Stir in the orange juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Serve hot, with sour cream, pepper, and pumpkin seeds, if desired.

　　

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and toss to coat. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until puffed and browned, about 10 minutes.

　　

Puréeing Soup

Step 4

When blending hot foods, allow the heat to escape to prevent spattering. Remove the cap from the hole of the blender’s lid, and cover the hole with a dish towel while blending.

　　Reprinted with permission from Everyday Food: Great Food Fast by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Copyright © 2007 by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Martha Stewart Living magazine was first published in 1990. Over the years, more than two dozen books have been published by the magazine's editors.Martha Stewart is the author of dozens of best-selling books on cooking, entertaining, gardening, weddings, and decorating. She is the host of The Martha Stewart Show, the successful daily syndicated television show.