Autumn, with its confusing temperatures, has officially arrived. As one scrambles between classes, assignments and semester tests, it is natural to look for a source of comfort and dopamine. Some may turn to artificial chemicals, while others may turn to the comfort of strangers, but none of these options serve as an aid the following morning when one has to do it all again. Students should be able to find comfort in food. You cannot think well, sleep well, love well, if you have not eaten well. Being a student is already a difficult task and finding a hearty meal on a budget should not be another problematic thought. For this quick and easy soup, all you need is a few ingredients and the student lifeline that is an air fryer. For those who lack this lifeline, have no fear, a stove and a pan will work just as well.
Ingredients:
- 1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into 5 cm pieces. Checkers provides a bag of ready-to-cook butternut squash cubes for R39.99.
- 2 medium carrots, cut into small pieces. Checkers provides a 100 g bag of carrots for R16.99.
- 1 orange, red or yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into thick slices. Checkers provides a bag of mixed peppers for R39.99.
- 1/2 medium onion, cut into 4 wedges. Checkers offers a range of loose onions that are priced according to weight.
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon of fresh garlic or garlic powder. Checkers offers a range of loose garlic that is priced according to weight.
- 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ginger or ginger powder. Checkers offers a range of loose ginger that is priced according to weight.
- Salt and ground black pepper
- 3 cups of vegetable or chicken broth (a stock cube in some hot water will also do just fine). Checkers provides a stock pot of broth for R34.99.
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream or whipping cream. Checkers provides whipping cream ranging from R31.99 to R89.99.
- A bread roll or bun to eat with the soup. Checkers provides freshly baked bread rolls ranging from R6.00 to R13.00.
- Plain yoghurt for serving – if that floats your boat.
Total Servings: 4-5
Total Cost: R206, 95 (R51,74 per serving)
The Process:
Preheat the air fryer to 190°C. Toss the butternut squash, carrots, bell pepper, onion, olive oil, garlic, ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and several grinds of black pepper together in a large bowl until well combined. Transfer to the air fryer basket. Fry until golden brown and tender, tossing halfway through, for about 20 minutes.
Transfer the golden-brown vegetables to a large pot and add the broth and cream. Use a blender or a potato masher to blend or mash the mixture until smooth.
Transfer the soup into an oven safe bowl and place back in the air fryer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is just simmering. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Ladle into a bowl and top with yogurt. Sprinkle whatever spices you have in your makeshift kitchen cupboard.
Soup is the embodiment of comfort during late cold nights and contains all the nutritional value needed to keep up a top-notch performance. This process should ensure that one has a little taste of home for four nights, without any supervision from the parents.
