A bowl of homemade, tasty soup is a wonderful way to get your body fuelled – not only with nutrients but also with a whole bunch of happiness.
If you enjoy cooking, you can have so much fun experimenting with different combinations of vegetables, herbs, and spices to create a unique flavour every time.
To give this soup it’s unique flavour you will need two specific herbs: fresh ginger and lemongrass. Many of you might be pretty comfortable cooking with fresh ginger root but what about lemongrass?
Lemongrass – Everything You Need to Know
This plant is very common in Thai and Vietnamese cuisines. It has a mild citrus flavour – hence the name. It’s usually used as an herb and flavoring in curries, soups, and curry pastes. It’s also popular for tea.
Health benefits:
Nutritionally, lemongrass is a good source of vitamins A and C, folate, folic acid, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and manganese. It also has minute traces of B vitamins.
Choose the best:
Lemongrass can usually be found in the produce/herb section of fancier grocery stores or in an Asian supermarket.
Tip: Lemongrass is typically much cheaper and fresher at an Asian market as there is a higher turnover.
Fresh lemongrass stalks should feel firm and heavy, with no bruising. If it feels light, it will probably have dried out too much.
Prepare it:
Though lemongrass stalks measure a foot long or more, almost all of the flavour is contained in the bottom 5 inches or so of the stalk. To get to that flavour, cut away the thinner top portion of the stalk and the very woody base. Then peel away the tougher outer layers to get to the more tender part of the stalk.
Tip: You can use all these scraps to make a soothing herbal tea; steep them in boiling water for 5 minutes, then strain.
From here, you have 2 options:
The first is the easier of the two. Simply cut the yellow stalk into 2-3 inch lengths. Then “bruise” these sections by bending them several times. You can also create superficial cuts along these sections with your knife which will help release the lemon flavour. Add these bruised stalks to your soup or curry. When serving, remove the lemongrass pieces, or ask your guests to set them aside as they eat. (used to flavour a soup or stew)
The second option is to slice the lemongrass and get it ready to be consumed. You will need a very sharp knife, as the stalk is quite firm. Cut the yellow section of the stalk into thin slices and place these in a food processor. Process well. Similarly, you could pound the slices with a pestle & mortar until softened and fragrant. (used in a marinade, curry paste, or stir fry)
Here is a quick video to show you these steps:
Store it
Stored wrapped, in the fridge, fresh lemongrass will keep for a couple of weeks or freeze for up to six months.
Ok, time to get cooking and try this bright and satisfying Butternut Squash Soup that will get you through the remaining winter months. Enjoy!
Lemongrass Infused Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
- 1 large butternut squash peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 tsp Himalayan salt devided
- 4 Tbs coconut oil liquified and decided
- 1 yellow onion peeled and chopped
- 2 stalks of organic celery thinly sliced
- 2 inches fresh ginger peeled and chopped
- 2 stalks lemongrass
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 can of full fat coconut milk
- 2 cups of water
- 1 Tbs coconut aminos
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- sesame seeds cilantro, coconut cream and chilli flakes (if you like it spicy) to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425° F.
- Toss the butternut squash with 3 tablespoons of the oil and 1/2 teaspoons salt. Spread on a parchment lined baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes until soft.
- Meanwhile...
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the coconut oil. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the celery, ginger, lemongrass (tough outer layers removed, cut into 2-3 inch lengths and “bruise”) and turmeric and stir to coat everything with the oil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes.
- Add the coconut milk, water, aminos and roasted squash,increase the heat to medium. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes to mingle the flavours.
- Turn off the heat and allow to cool for 5 min. Remove the lemongrass and discard. Then transfer soup to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Blending in batches if necessary. Add the lime juice and blend again to combine.
- Garnish the soup with sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, a drizzle of coconut cream and some red pepper flakes if desired.
With all my Love & Respect
