Squash Soup with Crab Stick and Corn

Squash or Kalabasa as what we Filipinos call it is a highly nutritious plant which is readily available in local markets or supermarkets all year round. Although we think of it as a vegetable, squash is really a fruit because it came from the plant’s seed itself. With its affordability and availability in the Philippines, why not use it beyond our traditional pinakbet or ginataang kalabasa dishes? By using it more often in our everyday meals, we can be assured of meals with  high levels of vitamin A (better eyesight), folate (prevention of birth defects), vitamin C (stronger immune system), not to mention other valuable antioxidants  vital to our bodies.

If you are tired of  your everyday meals, try making squash into soup.  Just throw in whatever vegetable, meat, or seafood that you have.  You won’t be needing any fancy equipment here, not even your old trusty blender. …Yup, this means no gadget or appliance to clean. Even a blender sometimes can be tiresome to clean especially when added to your pile of “basic” pans and plates J. This recipe freezes well—just hold off the milk or cream until serving time.

Kids will love this sunny colored creamy soup while the adults and the elderly will love its nutritional benefits. Try this recipe and watch it be immediately gobbled up.

Squash Soup with Crab stick and Corn

Yield: 4 cups

Ingredients:

• 500 grams squash (cut into cubes and boiled in 1 ½  to 2 cups water, mashed with a fork  together with boiling liquid)
• 100 grams crabstick (about 7 pieces)
• half a can of corn kernels
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 chicken cube or  (½ chicken cube plus 1 Tablespoon fish sauce)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup evaporated milk or cream (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in ¼ cup water (tap water)(optional)

Directions:

1. Over low heat, melt butter in a medium pan.

2. Saute garlic and onions until onion are transparent.

3. Pour in mashed squash together with the water boiled in it.  

    Increase heat and allow to simmer.

4. Add in chicken cube and or fish sauce. Mix well. Add salt and pepper to

    taste.

5. Throw in some crab sticks and corn kernels. Simmer a few minutes until

    crab sticks are thoroughly heated. (You can also opt to just top the soup

    with crab sticks and corn kernels.

6. If mixture is not thick enough, add cornstarch dissolved in water and

    simmer again for 5 minutes.

7. If using milk or cream, add now and simmer for a few seconds.