Chestnut N Butternut Squash Soup Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CHESTNUT SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium-size, heavy casserole dish, heat the oil over medium heat. Stir in the celery and the onion and saute until the vegetables are translucent and soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the chestnuts, squash, ginger root, thyme and mace and stir.
• Scrape the mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel chopping blade and process until completely smooth. Return the puree to the pan and stir in the chicken stock and the bourbon. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the soup just to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the crystallized ginger with the sour cream. Ladle the soup into individual bowls. Just before serving, spoon on a generous dollop of the ginger-sour cream mixture.

SQUASH-AND-CHESTNUT SOUP WITH CHIPOTLE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the port, wine, chipotles and tomato paste, bring to a boil and then simmer until the mixture is a thick paste, about 15 minutes. Let cool, then whisk in the crème fraîche and refrigerate until serving.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake until soft, about 1 hour. When the squash is cool, scoop out the flesh and place 6 cups in a large saucepan. Add 2 quarts stock and the chestnuts and simmer until the chestnuts are soft, about 30 minutes. Stir in the syrup and purée with a hand blender or in batches in a blender. Return to the saucepan and season to taste.
• Reheat the soup and ladle it into bowls. Drizzle with chipotle cream.