SAVORY SQUASH SOUP
Ingredients
- 2 2 2butternut squash (about 3 3/4 pounds)
- 1 1 1acorn squash (about 1 3/4 pounds)
- 6 6 6tablespoons TABLESPOON_USVolume(3/4 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 1 1white onion (about 4 ounces), peeled, trimmed, and finely diced
- 1/2 0.5 0.5teaspoon TEASPOON_USVolumekosher salt
- 1/8 0.125 0.125teaspoon TEASPOON_USVolumefreshly ground white pepper
- 1/4 0.25 0.25teaspoon TEASPOON_USVolumeground nutmeg
- 1/4 0.25 0.25teaspoon TEASPOON_USVolumeground ginger
- 1/8 0.125 0.125teaspoon TEASPOON_USVolumeground cardamom
- 4 4 4cups CUP_USVolumechicken stock or vegetable stock, heated
- 1 1 1cup CUP_USVolumeheavy cream
- 1 1 1sprig of fresh rosemary
Garnish
- 1 1 1Cranberry Relish
- 1 1 1Cardamom Cream
- 1/2 0.5 0.5recipe Spiced Caramelized Pecans (see separate recipe)
- 4 4 4tablespoons TABLESPOON_USVolumepumpkin seed oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut each squash in half and discard the 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, about 1 hour. Cool, scoop out the insides of the squash, and purée the flesh in a food processor. Reserve. (You should have about 4 cups of puréed squash.)
- In a medium stockpot, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Over low heat, sauté the onion. Do not allow it to brown. Add the puréed squash and cook over very low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally. Do not allow it to bubble up. Season with the salt, pepper, ginger, and cardamom.
- Pour in the stock and bring to a boil, still over low heat, stirring often. Cook about 20 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, heat the cream with the rosemary sprig. Remove the rosemary and pour the cream into the soup. Transfer to a blender or food processor and process, in batches, for 2 or 3 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
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Note: If desired, bake small squash until tender, scoop out, and use as individual serving bowls.
Makes 2 quarts
Presentation
To serve, ladle the soup into heated bowls. Place a tablespoon of Cranberry Relish in the center, top with a dollop of Cardamom Cream, then sprinkle with chopped pecans. Drizzle pumpkin seed oil over soup.
ABOUT THIS RECIPE
Fall and winter squash have a long season and are easily stored for months on end. Because our customers love it so much, we have this soup on the menu at Spago six months out of the year. The soup can be served warm or cold. For the vegetarian, the soup can be made with a vegetable stock.