Serves 10

1 (3 lb.) butternut squash,
1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 tablespoon honey
½ cup margarine or oil
3 medium onions, chopped
10 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves, or 2 teaspoons dried sage
5 medium carrots, chopped
2 quarts chicken or vegetable stock
½ teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups uncooked corn kernels (from about 4 ears of corn)
½ cup tofutti sour cream, optional
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
Optional: Sriracha or Spicy mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 375F. Cut squash lengthwise in half, and clean out seeds and strings. Score flesh with a knife in a criss-cross pattern and place on baking sheet and drizzle with ½ teaspoon salt and honey. Roast until tender, about 1 ½ hours, basting with juices occasionally. Cool.

Heat margarine or oil in a large pot over medium heat, cook onions and garlic for 20 – 25 minutes or until golden brown. Add sage and carrots and cook, stirring for 5 more minutes.

Scrape butternut squash flesh into onion mixture and add 1 ½ quarts of stock. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover and reduce heat to simmer and cook until carrots are tender, about 30 minutes.

With an immersion blender, puree soup. Add remaining 1 teaspoon salt, paprika, pepper and nutmeg. Add corn and stir and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Thin with more stock if necessary.

Serve warm or at room temperature, with a dollop of tofutti sour cream and parsley. Optional garnish for a little heat, add a drizzle of sriracha sauce or spicy mayonnaise.