Acorn Squash Bisque Heart Healthy Recipes

ACORN SQUASH BISQUE

Steps:

• Place squashes on a paper towel and microwave on high just until tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the microwave, and halve each squash lengthwise (to speed cooling). When cool enough to handle, scoop out and discard the seeds. Scrape out flesh into a bowl; discard skin. (To prepare in oven, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Halve squash lengthwise; scoop out and discard seeds. Place squash, cut side down, on a rimmed baking sheet; cover tightly with aluminum foil. Roast until almost tender when pierced wtih a knife, 15 to 25 minutes. When cool enough to handle, scrape out flesh, discard skin, and proceed with step 2).
• In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium. Add onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add squash, thyme, broth, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce to medium, and cook until squash is very tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Working in batches, puree mixture in a blender until very smooth, about 1 minute. Return to pan; add half-and-half, and season generously with salt and pepper. Thin bisque, if needed, by adding more water. Serve garnished with thyme.

ACORN SQUASH BISQUE

Steps:

• Place squashes on a paper towel and microwave on high just until tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the microwave, and halve each squash lengthwise (to speed cooling). When cool enough to handle, scoop out and discard the seeds. Scrape out flesh into a bowl; discard skin. (To prepare in oven, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Halve squash lengthwise; scoop out and discard seeds. Place squash, cut side down, on a rimmed baking sheet; cover tightly with aluminum foil. Roast until almost tender when pierced wtih a knife, 15 to 25 minutes. When cool enough to handle, scrape out flesh, discard skin, and proceed with step 2).
• In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium. Add onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add squash, thyme, broth, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce to medium, and cook until squash is very tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Working in batches, puree mixture in a blender until very smooth, about 1 minute. Return to pan; add half-and-half, and season generously with salt and pepper. Thin bisque, if needed, by adding more water. Serve garnished with thyme.

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH AND CRAWFISH BISQUE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Combine the brown sugar with 1/4 cup butter, cinnamon, and five spice powder in a microwave safe bowl. Cook in the microwave on High until the butter has completely melted. Place the acorn squash cut side up onto the aluminum foil; brush with the brown sugar mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the squash is tender and golden brown, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven, allow to cool, and scoop out and reserve the flesh.
• Melt the remaining 1/4 cup of butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, celery, and bell pepper. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the acorn squash, garlic, and seafood stock. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 30 minutes.
• Stir the cream and basil into the simmering soup; season with nutmeg, salt, and white pepper. Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot. Once pureed, add the crawfish tails, and simmer a few minutes until hot.

CURRIED ACORN SQUASH BISQUE

Steps:

• Place squash into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain.
• Combine flour, curry powder, ginger, and brown sugar in a small bowl; mix loosely to combine.
• Melt 1/2 of the butter in a deep pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, and garlic; saute for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup whipping cream, remaining butter, olive oil, vinegar, and bouillon cube. Add flour mixture; cook and slowly stir for 15 seconds, then reduce heat to medium or medium-low. Cover with a lid and cook until veggies are cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• Add cooked squash on top of the veggies, and season generously with salt and pepper; do not stir. Cover and cook until squash is heated through, about 1 minute.
• Fill blender halfway with squash mixture. Cover and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend until mostly smooth. Pour into a pot. Repeat with remaining squash mixture.
• Reheat soup if needed. Put into a large serving bowl or separate serving dishes, garnish with cilantro, and drizzle with cream.

HEALTHY ACORN SQUASH BISQUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Wash squash, halve and remove seeds.
• Place squash halves cut side down in 3 quart baking dish.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes or until tender.
• Let squash cool for 10 minutes.
• Using spoon remove squash pulp from the shells and discard shells.
• In large saucepan heat oil over medium heat.
• Add onions and cook until tender stirring frequently.
• Add squash pulp, broth and water.
• Cook over medium-high heat until mixture just reaches boiling, stirring frequently.
• Stir in brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and pepper.
• Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• Process mixture in blender or food processor until smooth and return to saucepan.
• Stir in half and half.
• Heat through.
• If desired garnish servings with pumpkin seeds and additional cinnamon.