Dehydrated Butternut Squash Soup with Red Lentils and Ras El Hanout
Ras el hanout is a North African spice blend. You can buy it at most supermarkets but it’s way tastier and very easy to make it yourself. See recipe notes for the how-to.
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 onions finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp ras el hanout
- 1 butternut squash peeled and cut into 2cm pieces
- 100 g red lentils
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- small bunch of coriander chopped
- dukkah and yoghurt to serve
At home:
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Fry the onions with a pinch of salt for 7 mins, or until softened and just caramelised. Add the garlic, chilli and ras el hanout, and cook for 1 min more.
Stir in the squash and lentils. Pour over the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for 25 mins or until the squash is soft. Blitz the soup with a stick blender or conventional blender until smooth, then add the chopped coriander season to taste.
To dehydrate:
Let the soup come to room temperature.
Spread the soup puree on dehydrator trays covered with non-stick sheets or parchment paper.
Dehydrate at 130°F/ 55°C for 4-6 hours or until completely dry and crumbly. (Check it from time to time to see if it’s done.)
Let cool to room temperature, then grind the dehydrated soup into a powder using a blender or food processor.
Divide into 4 individual portions and pack them in zip lock bags. Store in a dark, cool place.
On the trail:
Boil 400ml water per portion of soup.
Add the dehydrated soup to the water and simmer for a minute or two, stirring most of the time. The soup should rehydrate reasonably quickly. Add more water for a thinner consistency.
Decant into a bowl or mug if you’d like. Garnish dukkah, yoghurt, olive oil, fresh herbs, or anything else that inspires you. Enjoy with bread, oat cakes, or flatbread for a heartier meal.
To make ras el hanout:
Dry fry the spices below in a frying pan on a low heat. Leave to cool then blitz in a blender into a fine powder.
- 2 2-inch cinnamon sticks, broken into several pieces
- 1 tbsp cloves
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp fenugreek
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds
- 1 tbsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 10g dried rose petals
Serves 4. Nutrition information (per serving): 240 Calories; 7g Fat; 38g Carbohydrates; 9g Protein