Savory Squash Soup Recipes

SAVORY ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Rub olive oil on cut-side of butternut squash halves; sprinkle each with salt and pepper. Lay squash, cut-side down, on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake squash in the preheated oven until tender, about 1 hour. Scoop squash flesh into a bowl and mash.
• Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in melted butter until onion is slightly softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add carrots; cook and stir until carrot and onion are tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir mashed squash, marjoram, celery seed, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper into onion mixture; cook and stir until heated through, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in chicken stock; bring mixture to a boil.
• Gradually add cream and cream cheese to squash mixture; stir until cream cheese is melted and incorporated. Bring to a simmer and cook until flavors blend, 30 minutes.

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.

SUMMER SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy pot over medium heat; cook and stir onions until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add chicken broth and potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot, and simmer, about 5 minutes. Add carrots and simmer, about 10 minutes. Add zucchini and simmer until all vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Combine soup, basil, salt, and pepper into a blender or food processor no more than half full. Cover and hold lid down; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until desired consistency is reached.

WOLFGANG PUCK'S SAVORY SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut each squash in half and discard seeds.
• Brush cut sides with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Arrange the squash cut side down in a roasting pan and bake until tender, approximately 1 hour.
• Allow to cool until squash can be safely handled, then scoop out insides of squash.
• Puree the flesh in a food processor, reserve.
• This should produce about 4 cups of pureed squash.
• In a medium stockpot, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter.
• Over low heat, saute the onion, do not allow it to brown.
• Add pureed squash and cook over very low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
• Do not allow it to bubble up.
• Season with salt, pepper, ginger and cardamom.
• Pour in stock and bring to a boil, over low heat, stirring often.
• Cook about 20 minutes.
• Add the Cream Fraiche and rosemary spring.
• Warm through, remove rosemary and adjust seasonings to taste.
• Roast the peppers over flame on stove or under broiler until skin blackens evenly.
• Allow to cool, peel off black skin, remove core and seeds; chop coarsely.
• In blender or food processor, puree the peppers, adding chicken broth until thick sauce consistency is attained.
• Season with salt and pepper, strain, and pour into plastic squeeze bottle.
• Serve the soup with swirls of the roasted red pepper coulis.