- Prep-time: / Ready In:
- Makes 6 cups
- Serving size: 1½ cups
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A handful of humble ingredients are simply prepared in this fresh, invigorating soup inspired by the cuisines of Thailand’s mountainous northern provinces. A lemongrass- and garlic-infused broth anchor the flavors, while dried shiitake mushrooms add umami goodness, kabocha squash lends sweet notes, and spinach rounds things out. Low in calories, this is perfect as a starter soup or a light meal when you’re sick. Feel free to substitute as needed: kohlrabi or butternut squash for the kabocha squash; Swiss chard for the spinach; or Thai basil for the cilantro.
Tips
Lemongrass hack: If you have a spice- or tea-infuser ball, thinly slice the lemongrass, place it in the ball, and add to the broth. Thinly sliced lemongrass will add more flavor than the large pieces of lemongrass.
Substitutes: You can use butternut squash, acorn squash, or kohlrabi in place of the kabocha squash. Swiss chard will work just as well as spinach. And if you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can swap in Thai basil.
For more inspiration, check out these tasty ideas:
By Cameron Stauch,
Ingredients
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 stalk lemongrass (see tip, recipe intro)
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 lb. kabocha squash, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
- ¼ cup dried shiitake mushrooms, rinsed
- 4 oz. fresh spinach leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- In a medium pot bring garlic and ¼ cup water to a simmer. Cook over medium 5 minutes or until water evaporates and garlic softens.
- Meanwhile, cut lemongrass in half crosswise, then cut the root end in half lengthwise. Gently smash the top section of the lemongrass with the back of a chef’s knife to break it up a bit.
- Add lemongrass, vegetable broth, squash, and mushrooms to pot. Bring to boiling; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until squash is tender.
- Uncover pot. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out and discard lemongrass. Scoop out mushrooms and transfer to a cutting board. Trim and discard any hard stems, then thinly slice mushroom caps. Return mushrooms to pot. Add spinach; cook 2 minutes or until spinach wilts. Stir in scallion and cilantro. Serve immediately.
Per serving (1½ cups): 108 calories, 26 g carbohydrates, 8 g protein, 0.5 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 178 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 4 g sugar
Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.
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