Moroccan Spiced Butternut Squash Bisque Food

MOROCCAN-SPICED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BISQUE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large soup pot (or Dutch oven) over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and salt; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, 10 minutes.
• Add ginger, garlic, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add squash and broth to pot; increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered, until squash is extremely soft, 30-35 minutes.
• Puree soup in pot using an immersion blender (or puree in batches in a regular blender); stir in orange juice and garnish with chives.
• Serving size: 1 cup

SQUASH AND CHICKPEA MOROCCAN STEW

Steps:

• Heat butter and olive oil in a 3- to 4-quart Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan with a tight fitting lid over medium heat. When oil shimmers, add onion, garlic, cumin, and cinnamon, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until spices are aromatic and onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add squash and potatoes, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, stir to coat, and cook until just tender, about 3 minutes. Add broth, chickpeas, tomatoes and their juices, and saffron, if using. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until squash is fork tender, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in preserved lemon and olives. Serve over couscous garnished with cilantro, almonds, and yogurt.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH BISQUE

Steps:

• In 3 qt saucepan, cover squash with water and cook until tender.
• Place in blender and puree.
• In the saucepan, melt butter, add onion and garlic.
• Cook until tender.
• Add pureed squash, broth, and spices.
• Heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
• Add milk, heat through, stirring.

MOROCCAN SPICED SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Pierce squash (about an inch deep) all over with a small sharp knife to prevent bursting. Cook in an 800-watt microwave oven on high power (100 percent) for 6 to 7 minutes. Turn squash over and microwave until squash feels slightly soft when pressed, 8 to 10 minutes more. Cool squash for 5 minutes. (You can also bake the squash in a preheated 350°F oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours).
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute -- don't let this burn. Stir in spices and salt and remove from heat.
• Carefully halve squash lengthwise (this will let off steam so be very careful!) and remove seeds (throw them away or compost them). Over a bowl, scrape squash flesh with a fork, loosening and separating strands as you remove it. Toss with spiced butter and cilantro. Serve immediately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH BISQUE

Steps:

• Heat the oil and melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion in the butter and oil under tender.
• Mix the carrots and squash into the pot. Pour in vegetable stock, and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender.
• In a blender or food processor, puree the soup mixture until smooth. Return to the pot, and stir in the heavy cream. Heat through, but do not boil. Serve warm with a dash of nutmeg.

SWEET BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut the squash in half and take out the seeds.
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes with the cut side down.
• Turn over and put half of the sugar and half the butter in each squash, bake for 30 more minutes.
• Salt and pepper if desired.

VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND MOROCCAN SPICES

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium. Add the onions, chili powder, paprika, cumin and cinnamon, and cook until tender, stirring often and lowering the heat as necessary to keep the spices from burning, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. (Be careful not to let the garlic burn.)
• Add the squash, chickpeas, broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the cauliflower into bite-size florets, trimming and discarding any long stems.
• Add the cauliflower to the pot and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the chili is thick and the vegetables are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt, and serve hot, with yogurt and scallions, if desired.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP OR BISQUE (ROASTING METHOD)

Steps:

• ROASTING: preheat oven to 450. Peel and dice squash into 1/2 inch pieces (see tip at end). Dice onion into 1/2 inch pieces. Toss squash and onion with olive oil and spread pieces onto a large flat baking pan. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes - add diced apple - and continue roasting another 10-20 minutes (30-40 total roasting time).
• Tip: while you are roasting, make some "cheese toasts". Put some shredded cheese on top of bread rounds (we like gruyere or parmesan). Bake 10-15 minutes until crispy. These cheese toasts are fantastic soup toppers!
• Place roasted mixture into blender with about half the chicken broth; puree (keep hand on lid because hot liquids can cause the top to "explode" off with built up steam). Add remaining chicken broth, half-and-half, and herbs; puree.
• Transfer mixture to saucepan; reheat gently.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream and croutons.
• TIP: to prepare squash, first cut squash in half horizontally. Place flat end onto cutting board to stabilize squash and use a peeler to remove skin. Remove seeds. Then cut into lengths, and then into diced pieces.
• NOTE: if you have leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving, add about 1/2 cup, which will thicken the soup and add a nice smoothness.