Warming Raw Vegan Winter Solstice Butternut and Persimmon Soup

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Happy Winter Solstice on this beautiful, cold, sunny winter morning. Winter, like no other season, might be especially difficult for people who embrace raw food. Ice cold smoothies and salads are not always the best choices when it is cold outside. A warming soup sounds so much better. 

If you have the ingredients at hand you must try this delicious raw, winter soup. The spices add warmth to it but you can also warm it up a bit to satisfy those who prefer soups served in a more traditional way. Just watch the temperature (no more than 115°F) to keep it raw. 

 


Ingredients:

  • 4 cups chopped butternut squash
  • 2 persimmons, roughly chopped 
  • 1 inch fresh ginger
  • 1/2 inch fresh turmeric
  • 1 1/2 cups freshly made nut milk 
  • 1 Tbsp garam masala spice mix
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper 
  • 1 Tbsp fire cider or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp freshly pressed lemon juice 
  • 2 Tbsp virgin olive oil 
  • 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt to balance the flavors, add more if needed
  • slivers of persimmon for garnish 

 

Method:

  • In a high speed blender blend all the ingredients, except the olive oil and salt. Blend until smooth. 
  • Add the olive oil and salt and blend again. Adjust the taste as needed. 
  • Pour the soup into soup bowls and garnish it with slivers of persimmon. Serve right away and enjoy it in good company.

Tip: I used freshly made cashew milk as the base for this soup and added some high polyphenol virgin olive oil. Those who know me, know my passion for good olive oil but this soup recipe is quite flexible. You can use Thai style coconut milk and add some melted coconut oil to it if you want to. Ginger, turmeric and garam masala are the classic ingredients but you can easily use garlic, hot peppers, black pepper, nutmeg and cloves. Use your preferred warming spices and always add a little cold pressed oil and some salt to balance the flavors. 

"Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius." - Pietro Aretino 

No matter what you do, enjoy the shortest day of the year and make the best out of the longest night - in radiant health, passionately raw - Dominique

Dominique Allmon©2025