In the past week I received a lot of requests for Orange Soup (marak katom), which I mentioned as having been my inspiration for last week’s Purple Soup (marak segol) recipe. So I checked out a whole lot of recipes, and I used those plus the large pot of Orange Soup I made two weeks ago to come up with a version to share here. Please note that you will need an immersion blender to make Orange Soup. And, in case you like words and their derivations, Marak Katom is named for its orange color, which happens, in Hebrew, to be a completely different word (kah-tome) than the fruit (tah-pooz).
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
approx 2 lbs. (1 medium) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
3-4 large carrots, peeled and sliced into thick rounds
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
6-8 cups water
2 tsp. Kosher salt
2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
3 Tbsp. coconut cream
In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat until fragrant and swirling. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for approximately 10 minutes until browning at the edges. Keep a close watch to prevent overcooking, because the browned onion edges contribute a lot to the depth and flavor of the soup, but burnt onions are a bummer. Add garlic, ginger, cumin, turmeric, and cinnamon, and stir well for 30 seconds to allow flavors to bloom. Add cubed squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, and 6 cups of water.
Bring soup to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 45 minutes until vegetables are all very soft. Remove pot from the heat and stir in the salt and pepper. Allow to cool for a little while, and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Stir in coconut cream.
If you would like the soup to be a little thinner, you can add up to 1 or 2 more cups of water. Serve immediately, or leave it on the counter for several hours, and then reheat it just before mealtime. Serves 8-10 in bowls or 10-12 in cups.