French Onion Butternut Squash Soup Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Step 1 - In a large pot (ideally heavy bottom), melt the butter over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic until soft and translucent.
• Step 2 - Add the butternut squash cubes, stir and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the stock, which should cover the butternut squash cubes entirely. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes until the butternut is fork-tender. Remove from the heat.
• Step 3 - Remove about 2 cups of the stock and set aside. Blend the soup (with a hand blender or in a processor) until smooth. Add some of the reserved stock to reach desired consistency (I often add back about 1 cup, but you can more/less depending on how thick you like your soup). Season with nutmeg, black pepper and salt (optional), to taste.
• For serving, ladle soup into individual bowls and garnish with black pepper, chopped parsley and/or a dollop of heavy cream or crème fraiche.

FRENCH ONION & BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter and oil over medium. Add the onions and season with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and golden, about 30 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium-high and add ¼ cup of the stock and the butternut squash. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up brown bits from bottom of the pan and continue to cook, stirring frequently until the onions are deep golden, about 10 minutes more.
• Sprinkle flour over onions and squash, and stir to coat. Pour sherry and stock into the pot and add thyme. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, until squash is tender, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to broil with a rack in the top third. Arrange the bread on a rimmed baking sheet and broil until golden on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and arrange four ovenproof bowls on the prepared baking sheet. Ladle the soup into the bowls and top each with 2 or 3 slices of toasted baguette and sprinkle with cheese. Broil until the cheese is melted and golden in spots, watching carefully as broilers vary in strength, about 5 minutes. Serve warm.

EASY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Stir in squash, broth, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10-15 minutes or until squash is tender. Puree soup using an immersion blender. Or cool slightly and puree soup in batches in a blender; return to pan. Add cream; cook and stir until heated through. If desired, garnish with additional heavy whipping cream and crispy sage.

THOMAS KELLER'S BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil. Cut the neck off the squash and set it aside. Cut the bulb in half and scoop out and discard seeds. Brush each half inside and out with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the canola oil. Sprinkle the cavities with salt and pepper and tuck a sprig of sage into each. Place cut-side-down on the baking sheet and roast until completely tender, about 1 hour. Remove the squash from the oven and let cool, then scoop out and reserve the flesh (discard sage).
• Meanwhile, using a paring knife, peel away the skin from the neck of the squash until you reach the bright orange flesh. Cut the flesh into 1/2-inch pieces (you should have about 4 cups).
• Put the remaining canola oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat, add the leeks, carrots, shallots and onions and cook, stirring often, for about 6 minutes. Add the diced squash, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook gently for 3 minutes, reducing the heat as necessary to keep the garlic and squash from coloring. Stir in the honey and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the stock and bouquet garni, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until the squash is tender.
• Add the roasted squash and simmer gently for about 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. Remove from the heat and discard the bouquet garni. Transfer the soup to a blender, in batches, and purée. Strain the soup through a fine sieve into a bowl. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning. Let the soup cool, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Place the crème fraîche in a small chilled bowl and stir in nutmeg to taste. Whisk until the crème fraîche holds a shape. Cover and refrigerate.
• Gently reheat the soup until just hot. If it is too thick, add a little more vegetable stock. Heat a medium skillet over high heat. When it is very hot, add the butter and rotate the skillet over the heat as necessary to brown the butter evenly, scraping up any bits that settle in the bottom. As soon as the butter is a hazelnut brown, pour it into the pot of soup -- keep a safe distance, it may sputter -- then stir.
• Ladle the soup into six serving bowls. Top each with a dollop of crème fraîche. Grind some black pepper over the top and sprinkle on the chives. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top.

QUICK BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Add oil, garlic and onion to large stockpot over medium heat.
• Saute for 3-4 minutes.
• Add sage, salt, pepper, broth and squash.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes (or until squash has a tender consistency).
• Use stick blender to lightly puree, leaving some chunks, or puree half of the soup in a food processor or blender and return to pot.
• Garnish with parmesan cheese and more fresh sage (if desired).