Healthy Acorn Squash Bisque 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.

SHERRIED WINTER SQUASH BISQUE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add butternut squash and sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and Sherry. Boil until almost all liquid evaporates, about 30 seconds. Stir in 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash it very tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Puree soup in blender in batches until smooth. Return soup to same saucepan. Stir in milk and chopped thyme. Bring to simmer. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Bring soup to simmer before serving, thinning with more broth, if desired.)
• Ladle soup into bowls. Top with dollop of yogurt. Garnish with thyme sprigs.

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.

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.

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.