Butternut Squash Soup With Chili And Creme Fraiche Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CHILI AND CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Cut the squash into large cubes, about 1.5in across, then toss in a large roasting tin with half the olive oil.
• Roast for 30 mins, turing once during cooking, until golden and soft.
• While the squash cooks, melt the butter wih the remaining oil in a large saucepan, then add the onions, garlic and 3/4 of the chili.
• Cover and cook on a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the onions are completely soft.
• Tip the squash into the pan, add the broth and creme fraiche then whizz with a stick blender until smooth.
• Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning according to taste.
• Serve the soup with swirls of creme fraiche and a scattering of the remaining chopped chili.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the squash on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle over the melted butter, season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Spread out in a single layer on the baking sheet, allowing space in between the cubes when possible. Roast until tender and lightly browned on the bottom, about 25 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until the shallots have softened and turned a light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, if using bacon, heat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the bacon pieces. Saute until they are cooked and crisp, then transfer them with a slotted spoon to some paper towels to drain.
• Add the cooked butternut squash to the simmering broth. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender or food processor (alternately you can run the mixture through a food mill, which offers a great kind of nubby texture, or puree right in the pot with an immersion blender). Return the pureed soup to the pot. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Add the cream and heat just until warmed through. Place the creme fraiche in a small bowl and stir with a fork make it very soft and creamy. Ladle the soup into bowls, swirl in a tablespoon of the creme fraiche, and sprinkle with some crisped bacon, if using.

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Peel the squash, using a sharp vegetable peeler. Cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Cut in 1-inch chunks.
• Heat the butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it softens, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger root and cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the diced squash, water and salt and bring to a simmer. Cook at a low simmer until the squash is tender enough to smash with a spoon, about 30 minutes.
• Puree the soup, either using an immersion blender or grinding it in several stages in a regular blender. The soup should be completely smooth and a little thicker than heavy cream. Ladle the soup through a strainer into a clean soup pot, discarding any bits of squash or ginger left behind.
• Heat the soup through once more and season to taste, adding salt first and then the vinegar. Add the vinegar one-half teaspoons at a time; it will take a little more than 1 tablespoons.
• To serve, stir the crème fraîche to loosen the texture. Ladle the soup into wide bowls and spoon 1 to 2 Tbsps. of crème fraîche in a decorative pattern onto each. Scatter a few toasted slivered almonds over the soup and serve immediately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CHILLI SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 200C (or 180C for a fan oven).
• Peel the butternut squash, remove the pips and chop into cubes about 4cm across.
• Place on a baking tray and toss with half the olive oil, then place in your oven. Cook for 30mins, or until soft, turning once.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pan, together with the remaining olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and chilli, cover and cook at a very low heat for 15-20 minutes, or until soft.
• When all cooked, combine in the pan, add the stock cubes and 600ml of boiling water, then the Greek yoghurt.
• Blitz with a stick blender, or in batches in a regular blender to achieve a silkier texture.
• Season to taste and serve with a small drizzle of yoghurt and a few strips of finely chopped chilli.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH SPICED CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• To roast the squash, preheat the oven to 350°F.
• With a vegetable peeler, remove the skin from the squash. Carefully cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Place the squash on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast the squash until it is soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
• To make the soup, in a large soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter and then add the shallots, garlic, salt, white pepper, and spice purse. Cook until the shallots are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the mixture is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the squash, sugar, stock, and cream. Cook until all of the flavors meld together, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the spice purse and season with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and licorice root.
• Puree the soup in a blender, being careful not to overload the blender with the hot soup. (Before turning on the machine, be sure the lid is tightly secured and covered with a towel to prevent the hot mixture from escaping.)
• Strain through a fine strainer and serve with Spiced Crème Fraîche.