My favorite thing about cooking is when things come out of nothing. After the holidays, we had an empty fridge, empty countertops… contents of a meal (or even a snack) nowhere in sight. I had a pear that was on the verge of way-too-ripe, half an onion… and then I noticed a sweet potato that I never remembered buying. I’ve seen recipes for butternut squash soup with pears, so I figured this would work just as well. I foraged through the back of the fridge and pantry for the rest of the ingredients. Then I remembered I had this delicious coconut/lemon zest/yogurt cream leftover from the night before that would become the perfect garnish to balance the bold indian flavors in the soup. The result was a rich & creamy warming meal. The pear provided a sweet tang, the garam masala and paprika brought a smoky flavor. The coconut milk was lush, and the fresh sage brought it all down to earth.
