Curried Butternut Squash Soup

This ultra-comforting bowl gets a little heat from red curry paste and a velvety texture from a surprise ingredient: protein-rich silken tofu (shh!).

BY LIZZY BRISKIN

ACTIVE TIME 25 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME 40 MINUTES

SERVES 6

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 11∕2 cups)

2 tsp. kosher salt, divided

3 Tbsp. red curry paste

2 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger (from a 3-in. piece)

3 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbsp.)

4 cups lower-sodium vegetable broth

11∕2 lb. 1∕2-in. cubes butternut squash (from 2 [20-oz.] pkg.)

1 15.5-oz. can unsweetened coconut milk, well stirred

1 12-oz. pkg. silken tofu, drained

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 1 or 2 limes)

6 Tbsp. crushed salted peanuts

Chopped fresh cilantro and crushed red pepper (optional), for serving

HEAT oil in a large pot over medium. Add onion and 1∕2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring often, until onion starts to brown, 6 to 7 minutes.

ADD curry paste, ginger, and garlic; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broth and 1 teaspoon salt, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot. Stir in squash. Bring to a simmer over mediumhigh. Cover and reduce heat to low; simmer until squash is tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

Buttered Up

Butternut may be common, but its versatility in the kitchen and impressive nutritional benefits make it a god among gourds. This hefty squash offers fiber for satiety, vitamin C for immunity, and vitamin A for eye and bone health.

REMOVE from heat. Stir in coconut milk, tofu, lime juice, and remaining 1∕2 teaspoon salt. Use an immersion blender to process until smooth. (Or transfer to a blender, cover with lid, and remove center piece. Place a towel over opening. Process until smooth.)

SERVE sprinkled with peanuts, cilantro, and, if using, crushed red pepper.

Should You Ask Guests to Take Off Their Shoes?

We asked on Instagram, and more than 60 percent of commenters have their guests remove shoes. Absolutely!

BY LESLIE

“I don’t have to ask. They know better than to leave them on.”

@24HRGLAM

“I have a basket by the door with disposable blue covers for shoes. Some people never come back, and that’s OK.”

@ISCRAPPLESNAP

“Yes, yes, yes! And if they don’t comply, I let my little kids ask them incessantly why they have left their shoes on.”

@JONES_FAMI Cringe! No!

“I find it rude to ask people to remove their shoes. We have dogs, so we’re obviously cleaning our floors a lot, and what’s a little more cleaning? People usually wipe their shoes, though.”

@BOSS_N_BULLDOG

“No, I think it’s weird. I’ve been to parties where they make you do so, and it’s strange seeing bare feet and socks! Shoes are part of my look! ”

@KNTRAVELER

“Some people’s feet are dirtier than their shoes! ”

@MIMIDETTLE

The Verdict

You should institute a no-shoes policy. Plenty of cultures around the world have been doing it forever, and they’re onto something: Keeping your kicks on is a “good way to spread germs around the house,” says Charles Gerba, PhD, professor of virology at the University of Arizona. He conducted a small study that found fecal bacteria on about 90 percent of people’s shoes. Oh, and don’t get us started on pesticides and other chemicals! After the first five steps, the contamination lessens, Gerba says, but still—blech! (For concerned pup owners: A 2021 Utrecht University study showed that the paws of assistance dogs were cleaner than the shoes of their people.) Going unshod is better for floors too. Carpets get grody fast. And though hardwood is durable, particles can scratch it and high heels can leave marks, says Brett Miller, a vice president at the National Wood Flooring Association.

Which brings us to party time. Visitors may want to keep footwear on because it’s part of their ensemble, or they may struggle with walking in bare feet. “As a host, you should put others at ease,” says Elaine Swann, etiquette expert and founder of the Swann School of Protocol. “If guests aren’t prepared to take off their shoes, it might make them uncomfortable.” And we don’t want that

Have a bench near the door and a place to store footwear. Since guests’ biggest concerns about taking off shoes are likely comfort and self-consciousness (maybe they haven’t had a pedicure in a while), load up on slippers or socks from the dollar store and let guests keep them. Or relax your rules only when hosting, and give the floors a (very) good scrub when the party’s over.