Pumpkin Bisque With Wild Rice 5 Food

OYSTER BISQUE WITH MUSHROOMS AND WILD RICE

Steps:

• Rinse oysters thoroughly in cold water to remove the sand and drain, reserving as much oyster liquor as possible. Also strain out sandy particles or pieces of shell that might be present in the liquor.
• Place dehydrated mushrooms in a bowl and cover them with boiling water and let stand for 30 minutes. (Since the dehydrated mushrooms can be a bit spendy, I just purchase a small package of mixed wild mushrooms that include porcinis). To remove any sand that might be present, strain liquid through a cheese cloth and reserve the liquid. Chop the rehydrated mushrooms finely.
• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in in a large soup pot over medium heat. Saute onion, celery, rehydrated mushrooms, thyme, and nutmeg until vegetables are soft and translucent. Stir in 1/4 cup flour until well incorporated and allow flour to brown slightly. (I probably use at least 1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg. Chef Sarah calls for a "pinch.").
• Gradually add in the reserved mushroom liquid, fish stock, oyster juices, and sherry. (If you do not have fish stock, use bottled clam juice. But it is easy to make using fish heads, fish bone trimmings, onion, and celery. Although salmon heads can be used for some types of stock, I prefer to use heads from white fish, like cod or snapper.) Simmer soup base uncovered 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While the soup is simmering, slice the button mushrooms and chop remaining fresh mushrooms. Then saute in 2 tablespoons of butter. Although Chef Sarah only uses button mushroom and oyster mushrooms, I prefer to add other types of fresh mushrooms. I have noted from other recipes that oyster mushrooms are usually a substitute for Hen of the Woods mushrooms, but the latter have such an intensely earthy flavor and an interesting texture.
• Also while soup is simmering prepare wild rice according to package directions.
• Once base has simmered long enough to get all the flavors married, add the light cream. Then puree with an immersion blender. (Chef Sarah also purees the oyster mushrooms in with the base, but I would rather leave them chopped with the other fresh mushrooms).
• Add in sauteed fresh mushrooms, 1 1/2 cups of prepared wild rice, and oysters. Heat thoroughly to blend the flavors and cook until the edges of the oysters curl slightly. Adjust flavors with salt, pepper, and additional sherry. Serve at once, garnished with chopped parsley or thyme leaves and a splash of sherry in each bowl.
• Note: To prepare according to cookbook recipe, use only oyster mushrooms and button mushrooms. Finely chop the oyster mushrooms, so they can be pureed in with the base. Then combine sliced button mushrooms, oysters, and wild rice and complete as above. Also recipe from cookbook uses cream sherry and heavy cream instead of light cream.

BAKED PUMPKINS WITH WILD RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375° F.
• With a sharp knife, cut a 4- to 6-inch-wide lid off the top of each pumpkin.
• Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy fibers, (use seeds for roasted pumpkin seeds, if desired, or discard).
• Set a square of foil, over the opening cut on top of th pumpkin and set the lid on top of the foil (th foil is to keep the lid from falling back into the pumpkins).
• Place prepared pumpkins in a baking pan filled with about 1/2 inch of water and bake until the insides are tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size of your pumpkins.
• Remove from the oven and keep warm.
• While the pumkins are baking prepare the rice.
• In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion, bell pepper, zucchini, and garlic, and sauté, until the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
• Stir in the water, brown wild rice, parsley, salt, pepper, and turmeric, and bring to a simmer.
• Cover and cook over low heat until all of the liquid is absorbed, about 45 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork, and stir in the peas, carrots and corn.
• If desired, fold in the Parmesan or soy cheese.
• Set aside until the pumpkins are done.
• When the pumpkins are finished baking, discard the foil; spoon the rice mixture into the pumpkins and cover with the lids and serve.
• When serving, be sure to serve some of the inside of the pumpkin along with the rice stuffing.

FROM THE PANTRY: CURRIED PUMPKIN AND WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the rice, and simmer until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Strain and let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoons of the raisins and 1 tablespoon of the vinegar in a small bowl. Let sit at room temperature until ready to serve.
• Pulse 1/4 cup of the nuts, the remaining 3 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoons raisins, 2 tablespoons water, tomato paste, curry powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a food processor until a coarse paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the coarse paste, and cook, stirring frequently, until the oil begins to separate and the paste is brick red, 6 to 8 minutes. Add splashes of water if the paste sticks to the bottom of the pan at all. Add the chicken broth, pumpkin puree and 1 cup water, and whisk until blended. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally, and continue simmering until the soup has reduced and is slightly thicker than heavy cream, 30 to 40 minutes. Season with salt, and stir in about 3/4 of the cooked wild rice.
• Divide the hot soup among 4 soup bowls. Top each with some of the remaining rice and 1/4 cup cashews, vinegar-soaked raisins and pepper flakes.

THANKSGIVING PUMPKIN BISQUE

Steps:

• Simmer pumpkin in the chicken stock until soft and tender about 25 minutes.
• Transfer pumpkin to a food processor and puree.
• Return pumpkin to the chicken stock.
• In a skillet heat butter to bubbling over medium-high heat.
• Add minced onion and sauté until clear.
• Add garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
• Add salt, thyme, ginger and brown sugar.
• Add this mixture to the simmering pumpkin stock.
• Whisk in the lemon juice and pepper.
• Heat through uncovered for 25 minutes.
• Stir in the cream and heat 10 minutes.
• Top with nutmeg-thyme croutons.
• ---------CROUTONS---------.
• Heat butter and oil in a skillet over medium high heat until sizzling.
• Add bread crumbs and toss quickly to coat and fry, stirring until golden brown.
• Remove from heat and toss with thyme, nutmeg and seasoned salt.
• Cool to room temperature.

PUMPKIN WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Sauté the onion in the butter in a large saucepan for 5 minutes; stir in the broth and pumpkin, heat, stirring occasionally, over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
• Stir in the wild rice and pepper; continue to heat for another 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cream and heat through; do not boil.
• Garnish with chives or parsley and serve.

PUMPKIN BISQUE

Steps:

• I a medium saucepan, combine pumpkin, cooked squash, chicken broth, salt, spices and ¼ cup water.
• Mix well until smooth.
• Stir in evaporated milk.
• Heat slowly to serving temperature, stirring frequently.
• Garnish each serving with a dash of nutmeg.

PUMPKIN BISQUE WITH WILD RICE 5

Steps:

• Directions: Combine all ingredients, except cream and parsley, in a 5-6 quart crock pot. Cook on high heat setting for 3 1/2 hours or on low for 7 hours. Ten minutes before serving, stir in cream; cover to heat through. Sprinkle with dried parsley before serving. Number of Servings: 6-10 Notes: If you want to make this as a nonfat recipe, you can omit the cream altogether.