Butternut Squash Soup With Sage And Parmesan Croutons Food

SUPERB SQUASH SOUP WITH THE BEST PARMESAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• Put a very large saucepan on a medium heat and pour in a couple of glugs of olive oil.
• Add the sage leaves and fry for around 30 seconds or until dark green and crisp. Quickly remove them with a slotted spoon to a bowl lined with paper towels - you'll use these for sprinkling over at the end. In the pan you'll be left with a beautifully flavored oil, so put it back on the heat and throw in your onion, celery, carrot, garlic, rosemary leaves, chile and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cook gently for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are sweet and soft. Add the squash and the stock to the pan, bring to the boil and simmer for around 30 minutes.
• While the soup is cooking, make your croutons. Drizzle a little olive oil over the ciabatta slices, and press some grated Parmesan onto each side. Place in a non-stick pan without any oil and fry until golden on both sides.
• When the squash is soft and cooked through, whiz the soup with an immersion blender or pour it into a standard blender and pulse until you have a smooth puree* (but you can leave it slightly chunky if you like). Most importantly, remember to taste and season it until it's perfect. Divide the soup between your bowls, placing 2 croutons on top of each. Sprinkle with a few of your crispy sage leaves and drizzle with a swirl of good-quality extra-virgin olive oil.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PARMESAN SOUP

Steps:

• Gently fry onions, garlic, and chili flakes in olive oil in a large saucepan for about 10 minutes, or until soft and golden.
• Meanwhile cut off the tough skin of the butternut squash. Scrape out and discard the seeds, then roughly chop the flesh and stir it into the sauteed onions. Cover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash begins to soften.
• Add the stock, herbs, and parmesan rind and simmer gently for 45 minutes, or until the squash is meltingly soft.
• Discard the herbs and Parmesan rind, scraping any gooey cheese into the soup.
• In a blender, (careful with the hot liquids) process the soup, add the creme fraiche, and season to taste.
• Serve piping hot with Parmesan cheese shavings.

MOOSEWOOD'S BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Brush the bottom of a baking pan with olive oil and set aside. Cut the squash through the stem ends into halves, prick the skin in several places with a knife, and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
• Brush the cut surfaces with about a tablespoon of the olive oil.
• Put the garlic inside the squash cavities and place halves in the pan cut side down.
• Add the onions to the pan and brush with remaining olive oil. Pour the water into the bottom of the pan, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 50 minutes.
• Uncover and bake for 5-10 minutes more or until the squash is tender and the onions are soft.
• When the squash is cooled enough to handle, scoop out the flesh.
• Squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins and discard the skins.
• In batches in a blender, combine the baked vegetables, apple juice or stock, thyme, nutmeg, salt and pepper and puree until it is smooth. (If you are making this ahead - chill here - and when ready go to the next direction).
• Pour the soup into a pot and heat gently.
• In a small skillet, melt the butter and saute the sage leaves until dark and curled.
• Garnish each bowl of soup with the sage leaves.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH PARMESAN AND FRIED SAGE LEAVES

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion; cover and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Add chopped sage; stir 1 minute. Add squash and broth. Increase heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until squash is tender, about 25 minutes. Cool slightly. Puree soup in batches in blender until smooth. Return soup to pot. Mix in cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, then cover and refrigerate.)
• Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add sage leaves and sauté until brown and toasted, about 2 minutes.Bring soup to simmer. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with fried sage leaves.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH SAGE AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, leeks and garlic and cook them until they are soft.
• Add the vegetable or chicken stock, Parmesan pieces or rinds and simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Add the butternut squash, sage, bay leaf, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne. Cook until the squash is tender (about 10 to 15 minutes).
• Remove the bay leaf and the cheese and puree one quarter of the soup in a food processor and return it to the stock pot (the cheese -- not the rind -- can be crumbled or grated as a garnish for the soup). Heat through and correct seasoning. Garnish the soup with scallions and serve. Pass the freshly grated Parmesan separately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In a large bowl combine squash, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper.
• Place on shallow baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes, then turn over and roast another 15 minutes, until squash is tender and caramelized, then set aside.
• In a large soup pot, heat the remaining oil and butter over medium heat.
• Add the onion, celery and sage and sauté until translucent and tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add the squash, broth, and remaining salt and bring to a boil, lower heat and and simmer for 30 minutes, remove from heat.
• Using a blender or food processor, remove the squash with a slotted spoon and puree until smooth.
• Return to the pot, keep warm. Serve with grated parmesan.

BUTTERNUT SOUP WITH PARMESAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• Place squash in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan lightly coated with cooking spray. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with pepper. Toss to coat. Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 30-35 minutes or until tender, stirring every 15 minutes. Set aside., In a Dutch oven, saute the onion, celery and sage in remaining oil until tender. Stir in the broth and squash. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Cool slightly., In a blender, puree soup in batches until smooth. Return to the pan; heat through., For croutons, in a small bowl, combine the cheese, oil, sage and garlic. Add bread cubes and spritz with cooking spray; toss to coat. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray., Bake at 425° for 5-8 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle each serving of soup with croutons and additional cheese if desired.