Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup With Sausage Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SAUSAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Place squash, cut side down, in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 400° until tender, 45-60 minutes. Cool slightly. Scoop out pulp; set aside., In a Dutch oven, cook onion and apple in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the seasonings; cook until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Add broth and squash; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Cool slightly. In a blender, cover and process soup in batches until smooth. , Return pureed mixture to pan; stir in sausage and carrots. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until carrots are tender, 15-20 minutes. , Just before serving, stir in 2/3 cup yogurt, sage and vinegar. Serve with croutons and additional yogurt if desired.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPICY SAUSAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Pour 1 cup of water into 9x13 baking dish.
• Place the butternut squash into the prepared baking dish, cut side down.
• Bake in preheated oven until squash is easily pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the rice and remaining 1 cup of water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, uncovered, over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed and rice is fluffy, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork.
• Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until tender and transparent, about 5 minutes. Mix in the turkey sausage; cook until crumbly and evenly browned. Drain any excess fat. Stir in the cooked rice and corn.
• Scoop out cooked squash and place in a blender or bowl of a food processor. Discard squash peels. Pour chicken broth into the blender or bowl of a food processor with the squash. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Stir squash mixture into the sausage mixture until well blended. Season with pepper, and salt to taste. If desired, stir in the heavy cream. Simmer soup over medium heat until heated through, about 15 minutes, but do not boil.

SLOW-COOKER BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; saute until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Transfer to a 6-qt. slow cooker. Add next 5 ingredients and 5 cups broth to slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low until vegetables are soft, 6-8 hours., Puree soup using an immersion blender. Or cool slightly and puree soup in batches in a blender; return to slow cooker. Stir in additional broth to reach desired consistency; heat through. If desired, top servings with sour cream. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth if necessary.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Lightly coat the squash halves with 1 teaspoon of the vegetable oil. Season the inside with salt and pepper and place cut-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until very tender, about 45 minutes. When the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh and reserve. Discard the peel.
• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the remaining vegetable oil and, when hot but not smoking, add the sausage. Cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until the onions wilted and starting to caramelize, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic, sage and marjoram, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the cooked squash and chicken stock, stir well to combine, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• With a hand-held immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor or blender, puree the soup. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean saucepan. Add the cider vinegar and stir to combine. Add the cream and adjust seasoning, to taste.
• In a small saute pan, cook the butter over medium-high heat until it begins to turn brown around the edges. Add the whole sage leaves and cook until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the leaves to paper towels to drain.
• Serve the soup in bowls, garnished with the crispy sage leaves.