Butternut Pumpkin Squash Halwa Food

WINTER SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a heavy - bottomed stockpot, add the onions, and cook over medium - low heat for 10 minutes, or until translucent. Add the pumpkin puree, butternut squash, chicken stock, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer over medium - low heat for about 20 minutes, until the butternut squash is very tender. Process the mixture through the medium blade of a food mill. Return to the pot, add the half - and - half, and heat slowly. If the soup needs more flavor, add another teaspoon of salt. Serve hot with garnishes, if desired.
• Cook's Note: To serve with croutons, remove the crusts from 2 slices of white bread, cut them in 1/2-inch cubes, and saute them in 1 tablespoon of butter until browned. Season with salt and pepper.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH-PUMPKIN SPICE SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Mix together cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves in a small bowl. Set pumpkin spice mix aside.
• Place butternut squash and onions in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Transfer to a baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until soft, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to the bowl of a food processor. Add vegetable broth, cream, and salt; blend until smooth. Add 4 tablespoons of the reserved pumpkin spice mix, and blend until combined. Ladle into 6 microwave-safe soup bowls.
• Cook each serving in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir soup and continue to cook and stir, every 30 seconds, until hot. Top each serving with 1 1/2 tablespoons Greek yogurt and 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin spice mix.

BUTTERNUT PUMPKIN SQUASH HALWA

Steps:

• Soak almonds in warm water for about 2 hours. Remove the skins and pulse in a food processor until almonds grind to powder but not into a paste.
• Peel the skin from butternut squash and cut into half lengthwise. Remove the pulp and finely grate using a mandoline or other grater. You should have 3 cups tightly packed shredded squash.
• Meanwhile prepare milk-sugar syrup: place milk and sugar in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven. Cook the mixture until is gets thick and is reduced to about one fourth of the original quantity (30-45 minutes).
• Take the cardamom pods, remove the skins and grind the seeds into a fine powder with your mortar and pestle.
• In a large, wide bottomed pot, heat ghee on medium heat.
• Add the grated butternut squash to the melted ghee. With a big slotted spoon, gently mix and cook the squash for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the raw smell of squash disappears and color changes from yellow to orange-yellow.
• Add the ground almonds and condensed milk-sugar syrup, cardamom powder and rose water. Gently mix and stir constantly until the mixture comes together in a solid mass (10-15 minutes).
• Remove the halwa from heat and spread the mixture into a baking dish, allowing it to cool. Place dish, covered, into freezer for another hour to allow additional firming. Remove pan from freezer and cut halwa into small squares.
• Serve chilled, or store up to one week, refrigerated.

CREAMY PUMPKIN AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, sauté onions in butter and oil for 10 minutes. Add pumpkin, squash, broth or stock, 2 teaspoons salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes until squash is very tender. Process mixture until smooth with a hand blender or in a food processor. Add half-and-half and reheat slowly over low heat: add remaining salt to taste. Top servings with Gruyere cheese and croutons, if desired.