Cozy Lentil Soup With Delicata Squash Food

COZY LENTIL SOUP WITH DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt and saute until translucent, about 4 mnutes. Add carrots, celery, squash and another pinch of salt and saute until all vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in curry powder, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoons of salt and red pepper flakes. Add lentils and stir to coat. Pour in 1/2 cup of broth to deglaze the pot, stirring to loosen any bits stuck to the bottom and cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add remaining broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Decrease heat to low. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Taste and adjust salt, if needed. Stir in kale and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
• VARIATIONS: Substitute fennel for the celery to add more depth to the flavor. If you have trouble finding delicata squash, use its cousin, butternut squash.

LEEK & DELICATA SQUASH SOUP WITH CARAMELIZED APPLE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the squash, cut side down, on a baking sheet and bake until tender, about 40 minutes. Let cool slightly and gently scrape or cut squash away from skin (delicata skin is edible, but not tasty in this dish). Set aside.
• Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add leeks and thyme and stir occasionally until soft and brown, 10-15 minutes. Stir in the stock and the squash and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes. Using an immersion hand blender, puree the soup directly in the pot until smooth. (Alternatively, puree the soup in batches in a standard blender or food processor).
• Season with salt and pepper & top with sour cream and caramelized apple croutons
• To make the croutons:.
• Peel and core apple and halve lengthwise. Using a mandoline or a very sharp knife, cut apple into very thin slices. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread one layer of apple slices on top. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake slices for 20 minutes at 350 degrees until crisp.
• Transfer to cooling racks and let cool completely.