SPICY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH BLACK BEANS, RED BELL PEPPER, A

Steps:

• Preheat oven or toasted oven to 400F/200°C Cut butternut squash in half and use a sharp spoon to scoop out seeds. Place squash on a baking sheet and season with salt and fresh ground black pepper. Roast squash until it is soft enough to pierce easily with a fork, and starting to slightly brown, about 50-60 minutes. Let squash cool enough to handle.
• While squash is roasting, chop onion and celery and mince the garlic. Heat olive oil in large non-stick soup pot and saute onions and celery until they're soft, about 7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 2-3 minutes more. Add 2 cups of vegetable broth and simmer the mixture about 10 minutes.
• As soon as the squash has cooled enough to handle, scrape the flesh away with the skin and mix it with the other 4 cups of broth and the ground cumin. Add this mixture to the soup pot and simmer about 20 minutes; then use an immersion blender to puree the soup.
• While the soup simmers, rinse the black beans well with cold water and let them drain in a colander. Chop the cilantro and red bell pepper. After you're pureed the soup add the beans, red bell pepper, and cilantro and simmer about 15-20 minutes more, adding a little more stock if you'd like a thinner soup. Stir in the Green Tabasco Sauce to taste and serve hot, garnished with low-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, lime wedges, and tortilla chips if desired.