This is an older post from Hannah Kaminsky, yet as the cold and flu season is once again upon us, it could be as if she wrote this story and whipped up this warm and rich recipe just yesterday ... "Flipping through holistic magazines at this time of year, you’re bound to find intriguing articles about spices and their healing properties. I personally find this concept fascinating and completely logical, as it’s indisputable that what we eat has a massive impact on our health, even excluding fat and calories from the equation. While it’s true that certain spices in large quantities may upset the most sensitive stomachs, each of those individual exotic flavors in moderation can be extremely beneficial ...

One aromatic root in particular has caught my interest right now, and that happens to be ginger. It is the perfect addition to both sweet and savory, always dependable to create a tantalizing depth of flavor, but it can also be a quiet curiosity in the background if you don’t want it to be the main focal point. Wonderfully versatile, ginger is also very useful if you’re feeling slightly under the weather. It can help aid digestive issues, especially nausea, and is reputed to work miracles colds, flu’s, and fevers, as well as I long list of other conditions.

With this knowledge in mind, I set out to concoct a healing soup for a friend suffering with a heavy head cold. I was careful to balance everything out in such a way that it could speed the sickness away as fast as possible, and still be a joy to consume. Ginger of course needed to be included, and I found that miso was also said to boost the immune system, making for a powerful team. Continuing with more Asian-themed ingredients, edamame found their way into my pot, bringing with them vital protein which may be difficult to consume in adequate quantity when one’s appetite rebels. Butternut squash brings in a thick creamy texture without being unhealthy or overly-rich. Relatively low in fat so as not to provoke an uneasy stomach, this soup is an easy comfort food for any occasion, delicious for even the healthy to enjoy. Do yourself a favor when the winter chill gets to you - Have yourself a bowl of this soup and send that illness packing."

Healing Squash Soup

Ingredients:

-1 Tablespoon Oil
-1 Pound Butternut Squash, Peeled and Diced
-2 Tablespoons Fresh Ginger, Grated
-3 Tablespoons Dark Miso Paste
-2 1/2 Cups Water
-1/2 Teaspoon Salt
-1/2 Cup Edamame
-2 or 3 Scallions

Begin by tossing your chunks of squash with the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add in 1 1/2 cups of the water along with the grated ginger and bring it all up to a boil. Bring the heat back down and simmer for approximately 30 minutes with the lid on.

The squash should be very tender and yield to gentle prodding. Throw in the miso paste and salt (Be sure to taste and make sure it isn’t too salty though, you may prefer less!), and whip out that immersion blender, OR puree the contents of your pot in batches using a traditional stand mixer. Blend until satisfactorily smooth and add in the final cup of water, along with your edamame and scallions. Dish it out and watch your sickness disappear!

Originally posted to her blog, Bittersweet, this post and recipe were created by Hannah Kaminsky, author of My Sweet Vegan.