The Vegetable of the Month for January 2010 is: Root Vegetables!
What are root vegetables? Root vegetables are underground plant parts that we grow for food. These under-appreciated vegetables are in fact nutritious additions to a variety of soups and stews, loaded with carbohydrates and dietary fiber, high in vitamins and minerals, yet often low in cost and easy to store.
Common root vegetables include carrots, beets, parsnip, turnip, rutabaga, radish, jicama and celeriac.
Here is a Healthy Waltham vegetable soup recipe featuring root vegetables and other favorites.
Curried Waltham Butternut Squash Soup
2 onions 3 cloves garlic 1 sweet potato 3 carrots 4 large potatoes 2 apples 1 small butternut squash 3-4 parsnips 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock olive oil or butter 2 tablespoons curry paste, or 1-2 teaspoons curry powder, or to taste salt & pepper to tasteSaute onions and garlic in olive oil or butter. Add the rest and simmer until soft, then puree in blender or food processor & reheat gently. If mixture is too thick, may be diluted with more broth, apple cider (for a sweeter flavor) or water. Adjust seasonings if necessary.