Winter Squash Soup

Winter Squash Soup with Sweet Peppers

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium leek, white part only, chopped
1 large orange bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 cups diced butternut squash
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tsp. chopped garlic
1 tsp. sweet Hungarian paprika
3 cups vegetable broth or vegetable stock
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds, crushed (for garnish)
1/8 tsp. Spanish paprika, smoked or dulce (sweet),
optional, for garnish

How we make it

Heat oil in medium Dutch oven or heavy, large saucepan
over medium-high heat. Sauté leeks until translucent,
about 4 minutes. Add bell pepper, squash and pinch of salt,
stirring to coat with oil. Reduce heat, cover and cook vege-
tables gently to release juices, 10 minutes.

Stir in garlic and paprika for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Add broth, increase heat and bring liquid to a boil. Reduce
heat, cover and simmer soup until vegetables are soft, about
20 minutes. Uncover, and let soup cool for 10 minutes.
Adjust seasoning to taste.

Transfer soup to blender, cover and whirl soup to a velvety
puree. Or, using an immersion blender, puree in the pot.
Blend in orange juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.

To serve, divide soup among four soup bowls. Place pumpkin
seeds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat and cook,
shaking and swirling the pan, until seeds are plump and
mostly golden. Crush seeds and add to soup as garnish.
If using, sprinkle Spanish paprika. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings.

Per serving: 250 calories, 10 g total fat (1.5 g saturated
fat), 37 g carbohydrate, 9 g protein, 7 g dietary fiber,
430 mg sodium.

Adapted from a submission from the AICR and Dana Jacobi.