Apricot Squash Soup Recipes

ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the squash in half on the equator and remove the seeds with a spoon. Cut a flat spot on each end so the squash will sit flat. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and arrange the squash, cut side up. To 3 of the squash halves, add a peeled shallot and to the other 3 add 2 garlic cloves on each. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with 1 tablespoon each of the salt and freshly cracked pepper. Roast in the hot oven until very tender and starting to caramelize and collapse, approximately 1 hour. Remove from oven and when cool enough to handle, remove the squash from the skin. Reserve the roasted shallots and garlic with the squash. Can be done ahead.
• In a large Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat and when the butter is starting to foam, add the raw diced shallots and saute until they are starting to caramelize, about 5 to 6 minutes. Deglaze with 1/2 cup of the chicken stock and stir to remove any fond. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add in the reserved squash, roasted shallots and garlic and then the remaining chicken stock. Stir to combine, then puree with a stick blender. The mixture will be very thick. Add in the cayenne, white pepper and the herbs. Stir in the cream and Worcestershire sauce and heat slowly over medium-low heat. When the mixture comes to a slow simmer, mix again with the stick blender and stir in 1/4 cup of the Parmesan and turn heat to low. Serve with a fresh crack of black pepper, a nice drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a light sprinkle of remaining Parmesan. Ladle into soup bowls and serve.

APRICOT-GINGER ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cut squash lengthwise in half; remove seeds. Cut a thin slice from bottoms to level if desired. Place in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish, cut side up., Mix remaining ingredients; spoon over squash. Bake, covered, 45 minutes. Uncover; bake until tender, 15-20 minutes.

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Put squash into a baking dish with the cut side down. Pour enough water into the baking dish to cover the bottom.
• Bake in preheated oven until the flesh of the squash is easily pricked with a fork, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool until squash can be handled. Scoop flesh into a bowl and set aside.
• Melt butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Cook onion, carrot, and garlic in melted butter until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour chicken stock into the pot; add the squash.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
• Pour mixture into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid down; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth and return to pot.
• Stir half-and-half, nutmeg, and cinnamon through the blended soup; season with salt and pepper. Thin the soup with water if desired.

CURRIED SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Place squash cut side down in a greased or foil-lined baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 40-50 minutes or until tender. When cool enough to handle, scoop out pulp; set aside., In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add the flour, salt, curry powder and cayenne until blended. Stir in broth. Add bay leaf. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Cool to room temperature., In a blender, combine half of the broth mixture and squash; cover and process until smooth. Repeat with remaining broth mixture and squash. Return to the saucepan; heat through. Combine the topping ingredients; place a dollop on each serving.

CURRIED SWEET POTATO SOUP WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a casserole or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the curry, and stir for about 30 seconds. Add the sweet potatoes and apricots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are well mixed, a minute or so.
• Season with salt. Add the stock. Turn the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the sweet potatoes are very tender, 20 to 30 minutes. If time allows, cool.
• Place mixture, in batches if necessary, into a blender, and pur�e until smooth. Thin with water or stock if necessary. (The recipe can be prepared a day or two in advance up to this point, allowed to cool, and then refrigerated.) To serve, reheat, and adjust seasoning.

ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the squash halves cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet, and bake until tender, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion, saute until tender and then add the applejack. Scoop out the flesh of the squash, and add it to the saucepan along with the cider and chicken stock. Cook for 20 minutes.
• Puree the mixture in a blender, in batches if necessary, until very smooth. Return to the saucepan, reheat and season with cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in the vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish each serving with popcorn, if desired.

ARMENIAN APRICOT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in your soup pot over medium heat, then stir in the onions and carrots. Saute for about 10 minutes. Add the cumin and stir well. Decrease the heat, cover, and let the vegetables sweat for ten minutes.
• Add the lentils and pour in enough of the water to cover. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook for twenty minutes, or until the lentils and carrots are tender. Add more of the water as needed as the lentils soften and expand.
• Remove from the heat, stir in the apricots and any remaining water, and season with salt. Use an immersion blender to puree until smooth; alternatively working in batches, puree in a regular blender until smooth. Take care not to over salt this soup. The right amount will bring out the flavor of the apricots but leave the onions in the background. Serve hot.

SPICY APRICOT SQUASH MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups.
• Whisk flour, oat bran, ginger, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl.
• Place butternut squash into a pot with just enough water to almost cover the squash; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and mash squash with a potato masher until smooth.
• Mix squash and apricot jam together in a bowl.
• Whisk cream, sugar, and eggs into the squash mixture until light and creamy; stir into flour mixture until just combined. Pour batter into each muffin cup, filling each cup to about 3/4-full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Cool muffins in muffin cups before removing.

EASY APRICOT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• blend everything and simmer until warm or begins bubbling.
• enjoy!