Tomatillo And Squash Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the squash halves cut side up on a baking sheet and brush the insides with 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt, a few turns of black pepper, the cinnamon, paprika, cayenne, and cloves and bake until a fork pokes easily into the center. Begin checking for doneness after 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for 2 more minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor, add the tomatoes with their juices, and blend until very smooth. Return the mixture to the pot.
• Scoop the insides out of the squash and place it in the blender with the vegetable broth and blend until very smooth. Add it to the pot, bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Ladle into bowls, drizzle with olive oil, and top with grated Parmesan.

Steps:

• Heat oil over high heat in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Saute chicken in oil until both sides are browned, approximately 2 minutes per side. Remove the chicken, and set aside.
• Add onions and garlic to saucepan, and saute until golden. Stir in the tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover the pot, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Puree vegetables in batches in a blender or food processor. Return to pot, and reheat. At this point taste the soup; if not piquant enough, add cayenne pepper or pepper sauce.
• Slice the chicken into thin slices, and then shred. Stir into soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• When ready to serve, stir in the minced cilantro and ladle into bowls. Put a dollop of sour cream on top of each portion, and let it melt a bit. Top each dollop with a single cilantro leaf, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove and discard the husks from the tomatillos.
• Wash them and cut in half.
• Trim the tomatoes and quarter them.
• Quarter and slice the onions.
• Arrange the tomatillos, tomatoes, and all but one clove of the unpeeled garlic on a cookie sheet.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt.
• Roast for 35-45 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and beginning to char in spots.
• Remove and let cool for a few minutes.
• While the vegetables are roasting, combine the diced squash, the vegetable broth, and 2 cups of water in a large soup pot.
• Simmer, covered, for at least 45 minutes, or until the squash is very tender.
• While everything else is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the onions and the remaining clove of garlic, peeled and minced, and a dash of salt.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the onions are caramelized to a dark golden brown.
• When the roasted vegetables are cool enough to handle, scrape the red tomatoes off their skins with a spoon.
• Squeeze the soft garlic out of the husks and discard the husks.
• Combine the red tomato pulp, the tomatillos, and the soft garlic in a blender or food processor with a little water, and puree them.
• Add the puree to the broth and squash, along with the caramelized onions and the chopped cilantro.
• If the broth has greatly reduced during cooking, add some water.
• Toast the dried red chiles in a hot pan or over a flame until they blister or show black spots.
• Chop them, removing some of the seeds if you want to reduce the heat, and stir them into the soup.
• Simmer everything together for 5-10 minutes.
• Serve hot, with warm corn tortillas or any good bread.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon, onion and a big pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook until softened, about 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to the pot; bring to a boil. Add the squash and kale; return to a boil. Reduce to a steady simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash and kale are very tender, 15 to 18 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.
• Meanwhile, combine the oyster crackers, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the paprika and a big pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Toss until evenly coated. Spread out on the prepared baking sheet and bake, stirring once, until lightly browned and toasted, about 10 minutes.
• To serve, divide the soup among bowls and top with some of the spiced oyster crackers. Serve the remaining crackers on the side.