Winter Squash Bisque Recipes

Steps:

• Halve squash and remove seeds.
• Place squash halves, cut sides down, on a baking dish.
• Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Turn cut sides up. Bake, covered, 20 to 25 minutes or until squash is tender.
• Scoop squash pulp out of the peel using a spoon; discard peel.
• Place pulp in batches in a blender container or food processor bowl.
• Cover and blend or process until squash is smooth, adding some of the chicken broth if the mixture is too thick.
• Stir together pureed squash and remaining chicken broth in a large saucepan.
• Stir in ginger, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Bring mixture to boiling.
• Reduce heat and stir in half-and-half or light cream.
• Heat through, but do not boil.
• If desired, garnish each serving with sour cream and thyme sprigs.

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.

Steps:

• Heat the oil and melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion in the butter and oil under tender.
• Mix the carrots and squash into the pot. Pour in vegetable stock, and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender.
• In a blender or food processor, puree the soup mixture until smooth. Return to the pot, and stir in the heavy cream. Heat through, but do not boil. Serve warm with a dash of nutmeg.

Steps:

• Peel and seed the butternut squash and cut into 2-inch chunks.
• Peel and core the apples and cut into 2-inch chunks.
• In a soup pot over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
• Saute the onion and shallots until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the apples and squash and cook until nicely coated, about 3 minutes longer.
• Add the stock and rosemary and bring to a simmer. Add the thyme.
• Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are very tender, about 25 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. Using a hand-held or standing blender, puree the soup until smooth.
• Stir in the half-and-half and season with salt and pepper.
• Reheat gently over medium-low heat.
• Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and garnish with the sour cream, using a fork to swirl a zig-zagged pattern.
• [you can garnish with leaves of rosemary and thyme].

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add butternut squash and sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and Sherry. Boil until almost all liquid evaporates, about 30 seconds. Stir in 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash it very tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Puree soup in blender in batches until smooth. Return soup to same saucepan. Stir in milk and chopped thyme. Bring to simmer. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Bring soup to simmer before serving, thinning with more broth, if desired.)
• Ladle soup into bowls. Top with dollop of yogurt. Garnish with thyme sprigs.