Gingered Acorn 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.

GINGERED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Place squash in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Drizzle with 4-1/2 teaspoons oil; toss to coat. Bake, uncovered, at 450° for 30 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until tender. Set aside. , In a soup kettle, saute onion in butter and remaining oil for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in the ginger, curry, salt and pepper; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in potatoes; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Cool slightly. , Stir in reserved squash. In a blender, puree soup in batches until smooth. Return to the pan. Stir in milk; heat through. Garnish with sour cream if desired.

GINGERED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Arrange squash halves cut side up in a shallow baking dish. Place one tablespoon of orange juice into each cavity. Sprinkle each one with ginger and nutmeg. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 60 to 90 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the squash is tender. Baking time will depend on the size of the squash. Remove from the oven, discard aluminum foil, and let the squash rest for 5 minutes before serving to let the juices settle.

PURéED WINTER SQUASH SOUP WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add the onion and carrot. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the winter squash, garlic and minced ginger and cook, stirring, until the mixture smells fragrant, about 1 minute
• Add the water or stock, the rice and salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the squash is very tender
• Using a hand blender, or in batches in a regular blender, purée the soup. If using a regular blender, cover the top with a towel pulled down tight, rather than airtight with the lid. Return to the pot and heat through. Stir in the ginger juice, taste and season with salt and pepper. If desired, thin out with a little more water or stock
• Ladle the soup into bowls and add a tablespoon of yogurt (more to taste), then slowly swirl the yogurt into the soup with a spoon. Squeeze a few drops of lime juice onto each serving and sprinkle with whisper of nutmeg

GINGERED ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the acorn squash in half, crosswise.
• Scoop out seeds and discard.
• Place cut side down in 9 x13 baking pans (you will need two) and add about one inch of water.
• Bake for an hour.
• Remove from pans and set aside to cool.
• If the squash are rather small, it might take as many as five squash to make the required six pounds.
• Simply quarter some of the smaller squash to fit the baking pans.
• Warm the oil and crushed pepper in a five-quart saucepan, over medium-high heat for one minute.
• Add the garlic, onion, and ginger.
• Cook for three minutes, add potatoes and cook mixture, stirring frequently for five minutes or until the potatoes soften.
• Add boiling broth and reduce heat to medium low.
• Scoop cooked squash (about eight cups) into a large bowl and mash lightly before adding to the pot.
• Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove soup to food processor in batches, adding some soymilk to each batch.
• Return the purée to the soup pot.
• Place miso in a small bowl, add the sherry, and blend with a fork or small whisk.
• Add to the soup with the garlic, ginger, and nutmeg.
• Simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Do not boil.
• (Soup may be thinned with additional broth.) Sprinkle with a light dusting of nutmeg.
• Enjoy!
• Yield: 8 servings.

CURRIED ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Cut acorn squash in half and remove seeds and pulp. Place cut-side down in a baking dish; add about 1 inch of water.
• Roast in the preheated oven until a knife can be easily inserted, 20 to 30 minutes.
• While squash roasts, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute onion until almost translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in garlic and ginger. Add apple and cook, stirring regularly to keep from sticking, until it starts to get mushy, 7 to 10 minutes. Pour in 1/4 of the chicken broth. Add curry powder, cinnamon, cardamom, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
• Remove squash from the oven and let cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes. Remove skin carefully, chop flesh roughly with a knife, and mash some of the flesh.
• Add squash to the pot with remaining chicken broth. Simmer soup over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Pour into large bowls and serve.

SQUASH, GINGER AND APPLE SOUP

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450*F.
• Line a jelly roll pan with tinfoil.
• Halve the squash lenghtwise and with a sharp metal spoon scrape out and discard all the seeds and fibres.
• Lay the squash halves, cut side down, on the pan and bake them until they are very tender when pierced with a fork-- about 40 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and when the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh, including any well browned edges.
• Chop and reserve the flesh.
• In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter.
• Add the apple, onion,ginger and garlic and cook, uncovered, stirring once or twice until lightly browned.
• (15 to 20 minutes) Add the stock, reserved squash, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.
• Partially cover the pan and cook the soup, stirring occasionally until the apples are very tender, about 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Puree the soup in batches in a food processor or blender, or force it through a food mill.
• This soup can be prepared up to 3 days in advance, and will taste the better for it.
• Cool, cover and refridgerate.
• To serve, return soup to the pan.
• Add the cream if you are using it, and heat, stirring often, until steaming, about 5 minutes.
• Adjust the seasoning and ladle into bowls.
• NOTE: A spoonful of sweetly caramelized apples and a dollop of ginger cream will transform this simple country soup into a dazzling starter.
• Or, sprinkle it with crumbled Gorgonzola (about 1 cup), diced raw red apple (about 3/4 cup) and chopped pistachios or toasted pumpking seeds (about 1/2 cup) For Carmelized apples: melt 3 TBS unsalted butter.
• Add 2 medium-large cored, peeled and diced Granny Smith apples and cook stirring often until lightly browned.
• Add 1 TBS packed golden brown sugar, a pinch of salt and a generous grinding of black pepper and cook, stirring another 5 minutes until the apples are well browned and glazed.
• Use hot.
• For Ginger Cream: In a small bowl, whisk 1/3 cup chilled whipping cream into soft peaks.
• Stir in 1 TBs fresh ginger juice, made by finely shredding the ginger on a grater and pressing it through a seive set over a small bowl.

ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion and celery in butter. Stir in flour, bouillon, dill, curry and cayenne until blended. Gradually add broth and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add the squash, salt and pepper; heat through., In a blender, process the soup in batches until smooth. Pour into bowls; sprinkle with bacon.

GINGER SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, simmer broth and squash. Add the applesauce, sugar, ginger and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; stir in cream. Cook for 30 minutes or until soup reaches desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

ACORN SQUASH VELOUTé WITH GINGER AND MUSTARD SEEDS

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until light golden, about 8 minutes. Add squash and ginger; sauté 5 minutes. Add 4 1/2 cups broth. Simmer until squash is very tender, about 35 minutes.
• Working in batches, purée soup in blender. Return to same pot. Add tomato purée and cayenne. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors; add more broth if soup is too thick. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm soup over medium heat before serving.)
• Heat 1 teaspoon oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add cumin and mustard seeds and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with seed mixture and serve.