Baked Winter Squash Soup Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the quartered squash onto a half sheet pan, brush the flesh of the squash with a little butter and season with 1 tablespoon of the salt and 1 teaspoon of the white pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 30 to 35 minutes or until the flesh is soft and tender.
• Scoop the flesh from the skin into a 6-quart pot. Add the broth, honey and ginger. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree the mixture until smooth*. Stir in the heavy cream and return to a low simmer. Season with the remaining salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds.
• Place squash in roasting pan, skin side down. In cavities place 1 T. butter and 1 t. sugar. Place carrots and onions around squash.
• Pour 2 cups of stock in pan, cover and bake for 2 hours.
• Remove and allow to cool. Scoop out pulp from squash and place in soup pot. Add carrots, onions and cooking juices.
• Add remaining stock and mace, ginger, cayenne and salt to taste. Stir and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
• Puree until smooth. Adjust seasonings.
• Serve with garnish of creme fraiche and chives.

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.

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a deep skillet. Add onion and saute over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add pumpkin, butternut squash, carrots, parsnip, and turnip. Season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.
• Add thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley, and bay leaves to the pot, tucking the sprigs down into the vegetables so they can release their oils. Add garlic and continue to stir occasionally. Be careful not to let the garlic burn. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Heat vegetable stock in a separate pot. Add all the vegetables from the skillet. Check seasoning and adjust if necessary. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Retrieve all herb sprigs. Serve as is or allow soup to cool and blend in a blender to desired consistency.

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.