Roasted Butternut Squash Soup With Creme Fraiche Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CHILLI & CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Cut 1 peeled and deseeded butternut squash into large cubes, about 4cm/1½in across, then toss in a large roasting tin with 1 tbsp of the olive oil.
• Roast for 30 mins, turning once during cooking, until golden and soft.
• While the butternut squash cooks, melt 1 tbsp butter with the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan, then add 2 diced onions, 1 thinly sliced garlic clove and ¾ of the 2 deseeded and finely chopped red chillies.
• Cover and cook on a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the onions are completely soft.
• Tip the butternut squash into the pan, add 850ml hot vegetable stock and 4 tbsp crème fraîche, then whizz with a stick blender until smooth. For a really silky soup, put the soup into a liquidiser and blitz it in batches.
• Return to the pan, gently reheat, then season to taste.
• Serve the soup in bowls with swirls of crème fraîche and a scattering of the remaining chopped chilli.

CHEF JOHN'S ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Drizzle olive oil into large roasting pan. Add onion, carrots, garlic cloves, and a pinch of salt. Toss until coated in oil. Place squash halves flesh side up on the chopped vegetables. Sprinkle squash with additional salt.
• Roast in preheated oven until squash is tender and easily pierced with the tip of a knife, about 1 hour. Allow vegetables to cool a bit.
• Melt butter over medium heat. Butter will foam, and start to turn a golden brown. Reduce heat to low. When butter turns from golden to a light, nutty brown, remove pan from heat and immediately add sage leaves. Stir to infuse the butter with sage.
• Scoop out squash flesh and place in roasting pan with roasted chopped vegetables. Transfer mixture into large stock pot. Stir in chicken broth, brown sage butter, and maple syrup. Place pot over high heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low; slowly simmer to blend flavors, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Blend until very smooth with an immersion blender, 3 or 4 minutes. Pass mixture through a strainer to remove any remaining fibrous bits.
• If soup seems too thick, add a few tablespoons of water or chicken broth. Stir in apple cider vinegar, a pinch of salt (or to taste), and cayenne pepper. Garnish servings of soup with a dollop of creme fraiche and chopped chives.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH SPICED CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• To roast the squash, preheat the oven to 350°F.
• With a vegetable peeler, remove the skin from the squash. Carefully cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Place the squash on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast the squash until it is soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
• To make the soup, in a large soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter and then add the shallots, garlic, salt, white pepper, and spice purse. Cook until the shallots are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the mixture is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the squash, sugar, stock, and cream. Cook until all of the flavors meld together, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the spice purse and season with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and licorice root.
• Puree the soup in a blender, being careful not to overload the blender with the hot soup. (Before turning on the machine, be sure the lid is tightly secured and covered with a towel to prevent the hot mixture from escaping.)
• Strain through a fine strainer and serve with Spiced Crème Fraîche.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the squash pieces cut-side up on the baking sheet. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and brush all of it over the tops and insides of the squash halves. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast until knife tender, about 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Chop onion into medium dice. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add minced garlic and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add RawSpiceBar's Pumpkin Spices and stir for an additional 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
• When the squash is ready, set the baking sheet on a wire rack until the squash is cool enough to handle. Using a large spoon, scoop the flesh into the saucepan.
• Add broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally and breaking up any large pieces of squash, until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and stir in the cream.
• Using a blender, purée the soup in batches until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve garnished with the pumpkin seeds, if using.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CHILI AND CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Cut the squash into large cubes, about 1.5in across, then toss in a large roasting tin with half the olive oil.
• Roast for 30 mins, turing once during cooking, until golden and soft.
• While the squash cooks, melt the butter wih the remaining oil in a large saucepan, then add the onions, garlic and 3/4 of the chili.
• Cover and cook on a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the onions are completely soft.
• Tip the squash into the pan, add the broth and creme fraiche then whizz with a stick blender until smooth.
• Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning according to taste.
• Serve the soup with swirls of creme fraiche and a scattering of the remaining chopped chili.