Winter Butternut Squash Soup Food

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the butternut squash on the pan and drizzle each half with just enough olive oil to lightly coat the squash on the inside (about 1/2 teaspoon each). Rub the oil over the inside of the squash and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.
• Turn the squash face down and roast until it is tender and completely cooked through, about 40 to 50 minutes (don't worry if the skin or flesh browns-that's good for flavor). Set the squash aside until it's cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat until shimmering (if your blender has a soup preset, use a medium skillet to minimize dishes.) Add the chopped shallot and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until the shallot has softened and is starting to turn golden on the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring frequently. Transfer the contents to your stand blender (see notes on how to use an immersion blender instead).
• Use a large spoon to scoop the butternut squash flesh into your blender. Discard the tough skin. Add the maple syrup, nutmeg and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper to the blender. Pour in 3 cups vegetable broth, being careful not to fill the container past the maximum fill line (you can work in batches if necessary, and stir in any remaining broth later).
• Securely fasten the lid. Blend on high (or select the soup preset, if available), being careful to avoid hot steam escaping from the lid. Stop once your soup is ultra creamy and warmed through.
• If you would like to thin out your soup a bit more, stir in the remaining cup of broth. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil, to taste, and blend well. Taste and stir in more salt and pepper, if necessary.
• If your soup is piping hot from the blending process, you can pour it into serving bowls. If not, pour it back into your soup pot and warm the soup over medium heat, stirring often, until it's nice and steamy. I like to top individual bowls with some extra black pepper.

WINTER SQUASH SOUP WITH GRUYèRE CROUTONS

Steps:

• For soup:
• Melt butter in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add broth, all squash and herbs; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash is very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Working in batches, puree soup in blender. Return soup to same pot. Stir in cream and sugar; bring to simmer. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill. Rewarm over medium heat before serving.)
• For croutons:
• Preheat broiler. Butter 1 side of each bread slice. Arrange bread, buttered side up, on baking sheet. Broil until golden, about 1 minute. Turn over. Sprinkle cheese, then thyme and sage over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until cheese melts, about 1 minute. Ladle soup into bowls. Top each with croutons and serve.

SOUTHWESTERN WINTER SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Rub all over with 1 teaspoon olive oil and season the cut sides with salt and pepper. Arrange cut-side down on a baking sheet and roast until very tender, about 30 minutes (a fork should easily pierce the skin). Set aside until cool enough to handle, then scoop out the squash into a bowl and discard the skin.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the tortilla pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the carrots, red onion, chile, garlic, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion has softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add the roasted squash, broth and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the carrots are very tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Working in batches, transfer the soup to a blender and puree until smooth; return to the pot. (Or puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender.) Add up to 1 cup water if the soup is too thick and reheat if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with toppings.

WINTER SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a heavy - bottomed stockpot, add the onions, and cook over medium - low heat for 10 minutes, or until translucent. Add the pumpkin puree, butternut squash, chicken stock, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer over medium - low heat for about 20 minutes, until the butternut squash is very tender. Process the mixture through the medium blade of a food mill. Return to the pot, add the half - and - half, and heat slowly. If the soup needs more flavor, add another teaspoon of salt. Serve hot with garnishes, if desired.
• Cook's Note: To serve with croutons, remove the crusts from 2 slices of white bread, cut them in 1/2-inch cubes, and saute them in 1 tablespoon of butter until browned. Season with salt and pepper.

WINTER BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Cut squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Arrange the halves cut side down in roasting pan that has been sprayed with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Bake squash in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until very tender. Set aside to cool. When the squash is completely cool, scoop the flesh from the skin. While the squash is baking, cook the onion and the ginger in the butter in a saucepan, over moderately low heat, for 5 minutes or until the onion is softened, Add the broth and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes, covered. Add the squash pulp to the sauce pan. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor, in batches, and puree until smooth. Add enough water to achieve the desired consistency, and salt and pepper to taste. Return the soup to the sauce pan and cook over moderate heat until it is hot. Garnish each portion with the heaping teaspoon of low-fat sour cream.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• For the soup:
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and cinnamon stick and saute until soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the chicken stock and the coriander, if using, and bring to a boil. Simmer for several minutes. Stir in the squash until smooth, then simmer gently to let the flavors meld, about 10 minutes. Discard the cinnamon stick.
• Puree the soup in a blender until smooth. (The soup can be made ahead to this point, cooled, covered, and refrigerated for several days or frozen for about 1 month. It will thicken as it cools and may need thinning with stock or water when reheating.)
• Return the soup to the pan and reheat gently. Add the half-and-half, if using. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Keep warm until service.
• To serve:
• Ladle the soup into serving bowls. Garnish evenly, with the cheese and pumpkin seeds, if desired.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler. Halve lengthwise, discard the seeds, then cut into 1-inch dice. Place in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter ceases to foam and has turned a light brown, pull the pan off the heat and immediately add the sage, sugar, vinegar (stand back so as not to get splattered), molasses and toasted spice rub. Mix well and let simmer over medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the squash and toss well, then transfer to a heavy rimmed baking sheet or baking dish large enough to hold the squash in a single layer. Place in the oven and roast, tossing at least once, until very tender and caramelized, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Set aside until cool enough to handle but still warm, so the liquids are runny.
• Working in batches, if necessary, transfer the warm squash and all the cooking liquids to a food processor and process until smooth. Use immediately, refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Serving suggestions: Serve the puree on its own as a side dish for roast chicken, turkey, or pork; stir into polenta just before the end of cooking; use as a stuffing for ravioli; make into a soup; or use to flavor pastina. Or omit the sage, season with ground cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg to taste, and use as a substitute for canned pumpkin in your favorite pumpkin pie recipe.
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool.
• Put mixture into a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients. Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.

QUICK BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Add oil, garlic and onion to large stockpot over medium heat.
• Saute for 3-4 minutes.
• Add sage, salt, pepper, broth and squash.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes (or until squash has a tender consistency).
• Use stick blender to lightly puree, leaving some chunks, or puree half of the soup in a food processor or blender and return to pot.
• Garnish with parmesan cheese and more fresh sage (if desired).

WINTER SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Cut squash in half, remove seeds and place squash face down on an oiled baking sheet. Bake about 30-45 minutes (depending upon size) in a preheated 350 degree F oven until soft.
• While squash is baking, heat the butter in a heavy soup pot over medium low heat. Add onions, leeks, and carrots. Sweat until soft. Do not brown. Add vegetable stock to soup pot and bring to a gentle simmer.
• When squash is done, scoop cooked squash from the. Add squash to the soup pot. Continue to simmer about 30 minutes, or until vegetables are thoroughly cooked and softened.
• Puree soup mixture in a blender or food processor. This may require several batches. Strain soup through a medium mesh strainer and discard the solids.
• Season with allspice, ginger, salt and pepper. Portion soup into individual bowls. Slice apples very thin and arrange attractively on top of soup. Garnish with Cinnamon Croutons.
• **Cinnamon Croutons - take day old bread & cube. Place bread in a large zip style bag. Add some cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, and melted butter. Shake well until all bread is coated. Bake in pre-heated 400 degree over till golden. You may have to stir them once during cooking.
• Recipe written by Sherry Schie, Jazzy Cooking with Sherry, LLC.

ROASTED WINTER SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400.
• Cut the squash in half, seed it, and quarter it.
• Brush well with olive oil and season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Place cut side up in a baking dish and roast until squash is soft and browned at the edges, 45 minutes-1 hour.
• When squash is tender throughout, scoop flesh from skin and set aside.
• These steps can be done ahead of time and frozen for later use.
• Cook onion in butter over medium low heat until soft.
• Onion should be sweated, not cooked till brown or caramelized.
• Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
• Add the wine and cook, stirring frequently, until reduced to nearly dry (about ten minutes).
• Combine the herbs and spices (thyme through fresh parsley) in a cheesecloth bundle/bouquet garni, add it to the pot.
• Add the squash pulp to the pot.
• Gradually add the chicken stock to desired thickness (you may not need all 4 cups), and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to simmer, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer soup for 20 minutes.
• Remove cheesecloth bundle/bouquet garni, and puree soup with hand blender or food processor until it is the desired consistency.
• Serve hot.