Vegetable Lasagna With Basil Ricotta
Lemongrass-Ginger Kabocha Squash Soup
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September 1 marks an important day in food culture: It’s the day it becomes socially acceptable to put pumpkin in everything. But, the real star of fall should be kabocha squash. Its light, velvety texture and sweet, nutty notes make it the perfect mash-up between a sweet potato and a pumpkin.
You can find this underrated winter squash (also known as a Japanese pumpkin) at farmers’ markets, Asian grocers, and stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Its peak season is late summer and fall, though you may find it year-round.
The sweetness of the kabocha squash shines in this soup and is underscored by a sweetness from juicy Fuji apples. There’s a little heat from Thai chile peppers and a pungency from fresh ginger and lemongrass. The result is a harmoniously flavored soup that is light yet creamy, making it the ideal starter at your Thanksgiving table.
You can find this underrated winter squash (also known as a Japanese pumpkin) at farmers’ markets, Asian grocers, and stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Its peak season is late summer and fall, though you may find it year-round.
The sweetness of the kabocha squash shines in this soup and is underscored by a sweetness from juicy Fuji apples. There’s a little heat from Thai chile peppers and a pungency from fresh ginger and lemongrass. The result is a harmoniously flavored soup that is light yet creamy, making it the ideal starter at your Thanksgiving table.
| Prep Time | 5 Minutes |
| Cook Time | 25 Minutes |
| Servings |
4 Servings
|
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp grapeseed oil or other neutral high-heat cooking oil
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- 2 medium carrots diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2- inch piece fresh ginger grated or minced
- 3 Thai green chile peppers thinly sliced (seeded for a milder heat or omit entirely)
- 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 2 large Fuji apples unpeeled and roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 13.5 ounce full fat coconut milk
1 can - 1 tbsp reduced- sodium tamari or soy sauce
- 2 pieces lemongrass stalks tough outer layers removed and stalks cut into 6-inch, optional but highly recommended
- 1 to 2 tsp fresh lime juice to taste
- OPTIONAL GARNISHES
- roasted peanuts
- Sautéed shiitake mushrooms
- fresh cilantro chopped
Ingredients
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Instructions
- Using a large, sharp knife, halve the squash through the stem and cut off the stem. You may need to microwave the whole squash for 2 to 3 minutes to soften it and make it easier to slice. Once halved, use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and gunk. Cut each half into 3 or 4 wedges, lay each wedge flat on its side, and use a knife to cut the peel off. Then, cut the squash into
1 1/2-inch chunks. You should end up with about5 cups of squash. - Select the Sauté setting on the Instant Pot and, after a few minutes, add the oil. Once the display reads “HOT,” add the onion and carrots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to brown.
- Add the garlic, ginger, and chiles (if using) and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Pour in the vegetable broth to deglaze the pan and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Add the kabocha squash, apples, salt, coconut milk, tamari, and lemongrass. Stir to combine well. Select the Cancel setting.
- Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Soup setting at high pressure and set the cook time to 12 minutes.
- Once the 12-minute timer has completed and beeps, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes and then switch the Pressure Release knob from Sealing to Venting to release any remaining steam.
- Open the pot and discard the lemongrass stalks. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup for a few minutes until you have a thick and creamy soup. (Alternatively, blend the soup in batches in a high-powered blender. Be sure to remove the center cap from the blender lid to vent steam, but cover the hole with a kitchen towel.)
- Stir in
1 tsp lime juice and taste. Add another tsp of lime juice, if desired, and adjust the seasonings accordingly. Transfer the soup to bowls and garnish as desired.
Recipe Notes
As much as I love kabocha squash in this soup, if you can’t find it, you can replace it with butternut squash or sweet potatoes. Butternut squash is earthier and less sweet than kabocha, so I recommend adding either a tablespoon of maple syrup or 2 more Fuji apples. Sweet potatoes are sweeter, so you can omit the apples.
The Vegan Instant pot Cookbook:
A new and vibrant vegan cookbook authorized by Instant Pot, from the creator of the Rainbow Plant Life blog.With food and photos as vivid, joyous, and wholesome as the title of her popular cooking blog–Rainbow Plant Life–suggests, Nisha Vorashares nourishing recipes with her loyal followers daily. Now, in her debut cookbook, she makes healthy, delicious everyday cooking a snap with more than 90 nutritious (and colorful!) recipes you can make easily with the magic of an Instant Pot pressure cooker. With a comprehensive primer to the machine and all its functions, you, too, can taste the rainbow with a full repertoire of vegan dishes. Start the day with Nisha’s Homemade Coconut Yogurt or Breakfast Enchilada Casserole, then move on to hearty mains like Miso Mushroom Risotto, and even decadent desserts including Double Fudge Chocolate Cake and Red Wine-Poached Pears. The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook will quickly become a go-to source of inspiration in your kitchen.
About Nisha:
Nisha Vorais a food blogger, photographer, and author of The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook: Wholesome, Indulgent Plant-Based Recipes (June 2019, Avery). After graduating from Harvard Law School and working as a lawyer for four years, she exchanged her casebooks for cookbooks and launched a career in her dream world of food by creating Rainbow Plant Life, a popular vegan Instagram account,blog, and YouTube channel.
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