Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash soup is like a golden pop of sunshine and comfort on a cold day. There’s a story behind it but I’m well aware of the fact that most people who visit blogs these days aren’t interested in the back story, and this has me feeling frustrated lately. As a hobby blogger and a home cook, the story behind a recipe is sometimes more important than SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or laying things out perfectly to make sure that the dots line up. To me, this soup is about my parents divorce and overcoming obstacles. It’s about creating something delicious with very few ingredients so that everyone can eat well, feel loved and can be forgiven.

My parents got divorced one Winter in my second year as a social work student at the University of Stellenbosch. It came at a time when my mother wasn’t always able to take care of everything by herself. As the eldest it became my responsibility to go grocery shopping and put dinner on the table, and having very little taught me to be resourceful by making meals that could “stretch.” This butternut squash soup quickly became a favorite supper, accompanied by toasted sourdough bread topped with grated gouda cheese. I made the exact same combination last week for the first time in years, and realized just how much has been overcome since I made it for my family in South Africa. I managed to graduate university by some miracle, despite not having any means to do so. Since leaving home there’s never been a day where I didn’t have anything to eat. Over time and with maturity we all managed to move past our feelings about my father. Those are big things. Really amazing things, all related to a pot of butternut squash soup.

Most of us can make soup without a recipe because it involves a few easy steps. Roast your vegetables, sauté aromatics, add stock and purée then season to taste and finish with toppings. Though it’s very simple, I hope you’ll try it with a thick slice of toasted sourdough and butter or grated smoked gouda (or both) and feel the love.

Some tips:

When choosing your butternut squash, always opt for those with a longer neck because they have more flesh.

You can roast your squash up to two days ahead of time and complete the recipe when you’re ready to enjoy it.

You can make this soup vegan by using olive oil to roast and a dairy-free milk alternative towards the end.

Add crispy pancetta crumbles or roasted squash seeds as a topping, but personally I prefer it plain.

The heavy cream is optional but makes it so deliciously creamy. When things were tight, I often added milk instead.

Butternut Squash Soup
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 1hr 20 minutes | Serves: 6

Ingredients:
2 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed ( about 3 pounds)
4 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
4 large cloves garlic, finely minced
1 small bay leaf
2-4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 quart chicken stock
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, half n half, milk or dairy-free milk alternative

Special Equipment: Immersion blender OR blender, sheet pan

Method:
Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Place cubed butternut squash on a sheet pan or large roasting tray and drizzle with butter, then sprinkle with dried thyme, salt and pepper. Roast on the middle rack for 35-40 minutes or until very tender.

While the squash is roasting, heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 5 minutes until onion is translucent but not overly browned. Add bay leaf and thyme, followed by roasted squash and stock. Cook for 10 minutes with the lid on, then discard bay leaf and thyme sprigs and purée for 2-3 minutes using an immersion blender, or transfer to a standing blender in batches and blend for 1 minute each time until smooth. Return soup back to the pot and simmer for 10 minutes and remove from heat. Stir through heavy cream, season to taste (I love to add more herbs at this point) and serve.

Grilled Korean-Style Barbecue Beef Short Ribs with Pickled Summer Vegetable Salad

This post is a collaboration with Beef. It's What's For Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own.

The first time I had Flanken Style Short Ribs was at a party in the mountains near Wonju, the small town in South Korea where I lived and worked as an English teacher. Before then, I hadn’t realized that ribs could be cut this way. The host at that party knew exactly what they were doing, marinating the beef in a blend of soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic, then quickly grilling it over some hot coals outside. We snipped long strips of beef into smaller pieces using a pair of kitchen scissors, a trusty kitchen tool that I’ve since come to depend on when I cook. This recipe serves 4 comfortably, using Flanken Style Short Ribs, one of my favorite cuts.

What are Flanken Style Short Ribs?

According to Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner, the cut comes from a section right under the rib primal. They are essentially the larger, chunkier short ribs that most people are more familiar with, cut horizontally across the bones. Flanken Style Short Ribs are naturally fattier, which makes them the perfect cut for grilling! They are the perfect cut for marinating and are definitely a more affordable alternative to steaks in our house. No less delicious though!

May is National BBQ Month and I wanted to showcase Flanken Style Short Ribs in this quick and easy recipe, inspired by the meals I had in South Korea. I do take a little shortcut in the 

form of a prepared bulgogi sauce, because grilling season should be easy and breezy in my opinion, with minimal prep. That’s also why I pair my ribs with a raw zucchini and tomato salad, featuring some corn (you could eat that raw too, during peak corn season), and fresh greens. The sweetness of the caramelized ribs and the zesty salad is a perfect match, a delicious recipe for hot summer days with a margarita in hand! 

When it comes to National BBQ month, no other cut does it quite like beef in my house. I know it will satisfy my family, and we love celebrating the outdoors by cooking it together. When you start with such a delicious high-quality protein, the culinary possibilities are endless! Check out your local grocery store or butcher for this delicious cut, and I hope you enjoy it while celebrating the outdoors this summer!

Visit https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com for more recipes and inspiration!

Korean-Style Barbecue Beef Short Ribs with Pickled Summer Vegetable Salad

Prep Time: 2 hours or up to overnight Cook Time: 10 to 15 minutes  Serves: 4

2 to 3 pounds Beef Flanken Style Short Ribs, 1/4" thick
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup jarred bulgogi sauce (find it online or your local Asian grocery store)

Pickled Summer Vegetable Salad:
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 medium yellow summer squash, diced
1 to 2 ears cooked corn, shucked
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Grated zest and juice of 1 medium lemon
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 sprigs tarragon, leaves stripped, chopped
6 cups tender mixed lettuce

 Guidelines:

In a resealable shallow bowl, season the Short Ribs with the salt and pepper. Pour over 1/2 cup of the bulgogi sauce and turn ribs to coat. Seal the container and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours or up to overnight, turning occasionally.

Remove ribs from marinade, letting any excess drip off. Lightly oil the grill using a silicone brush or oiled cloth. Place ribs on a grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, uncovered, 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium rare (145°F). The bulgogi sauce has some sugar in it, so watch it carefully and remove from the heat once the temperature is correct and nice grill marks appear.Meanwhile, pour the remaining 1/2 cup of bulgogi sauce in a small saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally over medium-low heat until warmed through, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the Summer Vegetable Salad: In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, corn, salt, lemon zest and lemon juice, and olive oil. Toss until combined. Stir in the mixed lettuce right before serving.

Drizzle the warmed sauce over the ribs and cut into bite-sized pieces before serving with the Summer Vegetable Salad.

Roasted Kuri Squash Risotto

Here’s an easy yet flavorful recipe for all the not-so-low-carb eaters out there. It was time for me to try something new, something cozy and simple to put in my grandmother’s cups…that makes it even more special. You’ll love the flavor of red kuri squash in this risotto but if you’re unable to source one, butternut squash makes a great alternative. While in Cincinnati for the Saveur Blog Awards last month I ventured off on my own and found Colonel De Spices at Findlay Market, this roasted kuri squash risotto contains their “Simon & Garfunkle” herb blend. Guess what’s in it? Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme! I sprinkled some in my roasted kuri squash risotto for extra flavor and their spices are so fresh I highly recommend checking them out online. I’m not affiliated with them but love sharing great products!

The white wine in this recipe is completely optional and can be replace with more stock. If you don’t like the taste of goats cheese then mascarpone is a perfect replacement. As always, if you decide to make this recipe please let me know how it goes on Instagram @thedaleyplate #thedaleyplate. I love to share what you’re making!

Roasted Kuri Squash Risotto
Cook Time: 35-40 minutes | Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 medium red kuri squash, cubed and roasted with a bit of olive oil, thyme and salt until tender (You can make this a day before, the recipe needs about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon olive oil
3-4 slices proscuitto
6-8 fresh sage leaves
1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
2 large cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon each fresh or dry parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme. Fresh will give you a better flavor.
1 cup Arborio rice
1/4 cup dry white wine
3 1/2 cups stock of your choice (I prefer homemade chicken stock)
1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh goats cheese or mascarpone cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add proscuitto and sage, cook unti crisp and remove with a slotted spoon, placing on a paper towel lined plate until ready to serve.

To the same saucepan now containing the flavored olive oil, add onion and cook for 2 minutes until translucent. Add garlic, herbs and rice then stir for about 5 minutes until rice is coated with olive oil and onions start to get just a bit of color. You do not want the onions to brown too much so if need be, lower your heat to medium.

Add wine, stir and cook until wine is evaporated then add squash and 1 cup of the chicken stock. Stir slowly while cooking until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid. Repeat this process until rice is cooked (15 minutes for me), then stir in parmesan cheese and goats cheese. Season to taste, serve with crispy proscuitto and sage.