Heidi Swanson’s Summer Squash Soup with Coconut Milk

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 4 Servings

I think most of us know (and love) Heidi Swanson’s website, 101 Cookbooks. It has certainly been one of my favorite food reads for many years, and I am always inspired by the way Heidi brings vegetables to the fore, often in unexpected ways. So when we were hunting for some fresh ways to feature zucchini and squash this week, Heidi’s books were one of the first places I looked.

Ingredients

8 ounces extra-firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Fine-grain sea salt
1 tablespoon red Thai curry paste, plus more if needed
3 tablespoons extra-virgin coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the tofu croutons
3 large shallots, chopped
1 1/2 pounds yellow summer squash or zucchini, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
12 ounces potatoes, unpeeled, cut into tiny cubes
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups lightly flavored vegetable broth or water
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk

Instructions

Season the tofu with a pinch of salt, toss with a small amount of oil, and cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, until the pieces are browned on one side. Toss gently once or twice, and continue cooking until the tofu is firm, golden, and bouncy, 3 to 4 more minutes. Set aside.
Mash the curry paste into the coconut oil until the paste is well-incorporated. Heat this paste in a large heavy soup pot over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the shallots and a couple of pinches of salt and sauté until the shallots are tender, another couple of minutes. Stir in the squash and potatoes and cook until the squash starts to get tender, a few minutes. Stir in the garlic, then add the broth and coconut milk. Bring just to a boil, then lower the heat to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt or curry paste, if needed. Serve each bowl topped with some of the tofu croutons