Asian Kabocha Soup Food

JAPANESE STYLE SIMMERED SWEET KABOCHA

Steps:

• Cut kabocha into small chunks about 1 and 1/2 inch cube.
• Leave skin on (the texture of the cooked skin is great!).
• Put dashi soup stock, sugar, soy sauce, and kabocha chunks in a pan.
• Place the pan in high heat and bring it to boil.
• Turn down the heat to low.
• Simmer kabocha until the liquid is almost gone.
• Serve warm or cold. (I prefer it cold).

ASIAN KABOCHA SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Brush flesh side of squash with vegetable oil. Place halves, flesh down, on prepared baking sheet. Bake until tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool. Scoop out flesh and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion; cook and stir until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and ginger root; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in red curry paste. Add cooked squash. Stir in Swanson® Unsalted Chicken Broth and coconut milk. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour soup into a blender or food processor no more than half full. Cover and hold lid down; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth. Add additional Swanson® Unsalted Chicken Broth to bring the soup to your preferred consistency.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

KABOCHA (CREAMY JAPANESE SQUASH SOUP)

Steps:

• Wash the exterior of the kabocha squash. Cut in half and remove seeds and inner strands of the squash.
• Place kabocha on a microwave-safe plate and heat in microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, depending on the power of your microwave. This helps to soften the kabocha just a bit.
• Cut the kabocha into thin slices and remove exterior skin. Set slices aside.
• In a medium pot, melt butter and sauté onion slices until translucent and softened.
• Add kabocha and sauté together with onions until the kabocha is cooked.
• Pour water and add chicken bouillon powder in the pot. (Note: Chicken broth may be substituted for the bouillon and water.) Simmer on low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until kabocha is softened.
• Either use an immersion hand blender to blend the vegetables with the broth, or allow the mixture to cool slightly and then pour it into a traditional blender to puree, then add it back to the pot.
• On medium-high heat, add milk to the kabocha mixture and bring to a boil, constantly stirring the soup. Turn off the heat, and season with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly and serve immediately. Garnish with additional freshly ground black pepper and chopped parsley.

CHINESE BRAISED KABOCHA SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat oil in 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add ginger, garlic and scallions and cook until fragrant (2 minutes). Add stock, soy sauce, mirin and sugar. Bring to a simmer.
• Add squash and cook, turning once, until softened (about 8 minutes). Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until tender, turning once to evenly glaze (15-20 minutes).

VIETNAMESE KABOCHA SQUASH SOUP (CANH Bí Đỏ THịT BằM)

Steps:

• Divide the squash along the grooves.Note: The vegetable is naturally hard, so use a large cleaver or knife.
• Use a smaller knife to peel away the skin.
• Run the same small knife along the part where the soft and firm parts meet to remove the seeds.
• Cut the vegetable into chunks, roughly 10cm (4") thick or to preference.
• Bring the water to a boil and add the vegetables in to cook.
• Meanwhile, use a mortar and pestle to pound the spring onion heads until they're split. Alternatively, use a large cleaver to slap at it.
• Add oil to a small saucepan on medium heat and cook the spring onion heads for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
• Turn the heat to high and add the pork mince in to cook for 5 minutes or until cooked.
• Pour the mince into the soup and season. Let it come to a boil and simmer for another 20 minutes or until the vegetable has softened.
• Serve hot as is!