Moroccan Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet with tin foil.

Step 2

Cut the squash in half and scrape out the seeds. Place it cut side up on the baking sheet. Try to make sure that the cut sides stay facing straight up, and the squash doesn't fall onto its side.

Step 3

Chop the onion in half lengthwise. Slice off one of the ends so that you loosen the papery outside coating, and peel it off. Do not cut the other end of the onion off, or it won't hold together. Place it cut-side up on the baking sheet.

Step 4

Drizzle 1 Tbsp of the coconut oil over the squash (so 1/2 Tbsp of oil per each side) and rub in. Then, drizzle 1 tsp of the oil over the onion (1/2 tsp per each side of the onion) and rub in.

Step 5

In a small bowl, combine the cumin, cinnamon, salt, smoked paprika and allspice. Divide it evenly between both halves of the squash and onion, rubbing in gently. Make sure you get ALL the spice mixture on the vegetables.

Step 6

Place two layers of tin foil on top of each other (shiny side in!) Cut the top of the garlic head off and place it in the center of the tinfoil. Drizzle the remaining 1 tsp of coconut oil on the garlic, rub it in and then fold the tinfoil around it to create a packet. Place onto the baking sheet.

Step 7

Bake until the squash and onion are fork tender, about 50 mins to an hour.

Step 8

While the vegetables roast, place the vegetable broth and chopped dates into a medium pot and bring to a boil on high heat.

Step 9

Once boiling, boil for 1 minute. Then, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the dates are very soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit until the vegetables are done.

Step 10

Scrape the flesh of the roasted squash into a high-powered blender (don't get the skin in there) and then add in the whole onion. Peel the tinfoil off the garlic head and squeeze the softened garlic out of the cloves into the blender as well.

Step 11

Add the ginger, along with the softened dates and vegetable broth into the blender. Blend until smooth and and creamy, scraping down the sides as necessary. Taste and adjust ginger and salt if necessary.

Step 12

Pour into bowls, garnish with cilantro and pepitas and DEVOUR.