Gingered Butternut Squash Soup With Spicy Pecan Cream Food

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.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH CREAM SOUP WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Brush cut side of butternut squash with olive oil and place on a baking sheet, cut-side down.
• Bake in the preheated oven until peel is crinkly and butternut squash is soft, about 40 minutes. Scrape flesh into a bowl with a spoon and set aside.
• Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat and cook onions until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add squash flesh, 2 cups hot broth, and ginger. Season with ginger, curry, cumin, sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring soup to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until flavors are well combined, about 15 minutes.
• Puree soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Add more hot broth for a thinner soup. Stir in cream and season to taste with sugar, apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper, and salt.

GINGERED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan cook the onion in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened, add the squash and 2 cups of the water, and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes, or until the squash is very tender. Stir in the garlic paste and the gingerroot and simmer the soup for 1 minute. In a blender purée the soup with the remaining 1/2 cup water and stir in the parsley and salt and pepper to taste.