A new find for foodies
Kaiser Permanente’s Food for Health blog features recipes straight from the kitchens of our own physicians, nurses, and dietitians, so you know they are tested, tasty — and healthy. Plus, regular blog posts offer tips about food and nutrition.
“As a physician, I am excited to share my love of cooking tasty meals as a key to excellent health,” says Leslie Wilkof, MD, a Food for Health contributor and ob-gyn at our Hayward Medical Center in Northern California.
“I truly believe that good food is good medicine. My hope is that Kaiser Permanente members will be inspired by this recipe blog to spend time in their own kitchens, creating meals for friends and family that will ultimately help to build community and health.”
This month, Dr. Wilkof offers up a butternut squash soup recipe. “This nutritious soup is easy to prepare, has wonderful flavor, and is high in antioxidants. Since it’s made without frying any of the ingredients, it’s almost fat-free,” Dr. Wilkof says. Carrots, celery root, parsnips, or cauliflower can be substituted depending on what’s in season. Enjoy!
Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
1 butternut squash, about 2 pounds
1 large yellow onion
1 head of garlic
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 to 2 teaspoons of dried thyme
3 to 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
Season to taste
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Wash the vegetables. Cut the squash in half vertically. Scrape the seeds out and discard. Cut each half into about 4 chunks for a total of 8 pieces.
- Cut the unpeeled onion in half vertically. Cut 1/2 inch off the top of the garlic head, exposing the cloves.
- Arrange the garlic, squash, and onion, cut side up, on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with thyme.
- Cover dish tightly with foil and bake until the squash is tender when pierced with a knife, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- After vegetables have cooled enough to handle, scrape squash off of the skin and into a food processor or blender. Discard the skin.
- Peel the skin off of the onion and trim the root and add the roasted onion to the squash. Separate 9 to 12 of the garlic cloves and squeeze the soft garlic in with the vegetables. Add any juices that have collected in the baking pan.
- Add 3 cups of broth and puree the mixture until smooth. Add extra broth as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
- Transfer soup to a 4 or 5 quart soup pot and heat over medium heat. Season with freshly ground pepper. If you like, garnish the soup in the bowl with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil or some chopped parsley.