TOTAL COOK TIME: 30 MINUTES | MAKES 2 SERVINGS
Okinawans make this soup from kabocha, or Japanese pumpkin—a good substitute is acorn or butternut squash. The result is a silky, slightly sweet soup that takes about 20 minutes to whip up if you have an immersion blender or food processor. You can also make this in a flash with canned pumpkin puree, which is usually a blend of pumpkin and orange squash.
½ pound acorn or butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into large chunks
¼ cup chopped leeks (or onion)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1¾cups unsweetened soy milk
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1 teaspoon dried turmeric
1 teaspoon salt, plus more if needed
Place a steamer tray into a pot with about 2 inches of water. Bring water to a boil and steam squash until soft, about 15 minutes. In a soup pot, stir-fry leeks in vegetable oil until soft but not browned, about 3-4 minutes. Add soy milk, steamed squash, and spices and simmer for 15 minutes. Blend all together with an immersion blender or in a food processor (in batches, if necessary) until smooth. Add salt to taste.
