This recipe was created by Vegan Chef Day.

Prep time - 15 minutes

Cook time - 35 minutes

Difficulty - Easy

Serves / makes - 2 large or 4 small portions

Ingredients

1kg squash, either butternut or turban

1 onion, 150g

4 garlic cloves, 20g

50g sunflower seeds

The leaves from a large stalk of rosemary

1x400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 litre of water

1T stock powder or stock cube

1T red miso paste, you can also use white or brown miso paste

1t pink or black peppercorns 

Vegan cream or yoghurt to serve 

Equipment

Baking tray

Small frying pan

Large saucepan

Hand blender

Pestle and mortar

Method

1. Heat your oven to 200c/390f/GM6.

2. Cut the squash in half, lengthwise, then into slices, roughly 4cm wide. Cut the onion in half lengthwise, do not remove the out skin. Place the squash and onion on the baking tray, cut side down. Add the garlic cloves, with their skin still on, to the pan.

3. Roast the veggies in the oven for around 30 minutes until the squash is cooked through. The garlic will need to be removed from the oven after 5-15 minutes, once it is cooked. The time will depend on the size of the garlic, the smaller the garlic, the less time it needs to cook.

4. Whilst the veggies are cooking toast the seeds. Put them into a small dry frying pan on a medium heat. Cook for around 10 minutes until they are browned and you can smell their aroma.

5. Remove the squash seeds and skin. Place the flesh in the saucepan with the garlic cloves and onions, removed from their skins. Add the rosemary, chickpeas and water.

6. Blend, with a hand blender, until very smooth. Add the stock powder and miso paste. Blend once again. Put the pan on a medium heat to warm through. Do not allow it to boil.

7. Crush the peppercorns in the pestle and mortar. Serve the soup topped with cream, seeds and freshly ground pepper.