Kabocha Squash Soup

• 2 1/2 pound kabocha squash or pumpkin or acorn squash
• 1 x nonstick cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup leeks chopped
• 3/4 cup onions chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon ginger fresh grated
• 18 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
• 1 inch lemongrass piece fresh
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock or chicken or beef
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
• 1/2 cup coconut milk lite
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lime zest grated
• 2 tablespoons scallions, spring or green onions diagonally cut, optional
• 1 tablespoon cilantro fresh chopped, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350F (180C) F (175 degrees C)
2. Cut squash in half lengthwise.
3. Discard seeds.
4. Place squash cut side down on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
5. Baked at 350F (180C) F for about 45 minutes or until tender.
6. Cool, scoop out pulp and discard skins.
7. Melt the butter in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.
8. Stir in the leek, onion, ginger, pepper, garlic and lemongrass.
9. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
10. Stir in the squash pulp, broth, water, sugar and bring to a boil.
11. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 45 minutes.
12. Place once half of the mixture into a food processor and process until smooth.
13. Strain mixture through a sieve into a bowl.
14. Discard the solids and repeat with the remaining mixture.
15. Return the strained squash mixture to the pot and stir in the coconut milk and lime rind.
16. Cook over medium heat until heated through.
17. Serve in a bowl sprinkled with the green onions and cilantro if desired.
18. 8 servings of about 3/4 cup each.
19. Calories: 153 (19% from fat); Fat: 3.3g (sat 1.5g, mono 0.6g, poly 0.4g); Protein: 2.7g; Carbs 32.5g; fiber: 6.8g; cholesterol 4mg; Iron: 1.9mg; sodium 341mg; calcium: 83mg

pumpkin, nonstick cooking spray, butter, leeks, onions, ginger, black pepper, garlic, fresh, vegetable stock, water, brown sugar, coconut milk, lime zest, scallions, cilantro

Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/kabocha-squash-soup-2746 (may not work)