Spicy 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.

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.

SPICY VEGAN ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse and drain split peas and lentils. Place them in a large soup pot with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Add garlic, ginger, salt, turmeric, pepper, chile powder, cinnamon, cumin, crushed red chile, and bay leaves. Stir and let simmer until peas and lentils are soft, about 20 minutes.
• Stir the remaining 1 1/2 cups water, squash, yam, tomatoes, and onion into the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until squash and yam are tender, about 15 minutes.

SPICED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; spoon into squash halves. Sprinkle with raisins. Top each with 1 tablespoon butter. Wrap each half individually in heavy-duty foil, sealing tightly., Pour water into a 5-qt. slow cooker. Place squash in slow cooker, cut side up (packets may be stacked). Cook, covered, on high 3-1/2 to 4 hours or until squash is tender. Open foil carefully to allow steam to escape.

ROASTED SPICED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss squash with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Arrange squash, cut side down, in a single layer and roast until tender, 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.

CURRIED ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Place squash, cut side down, in a greased shallow baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until the squash is almost tender. , In a large saucepan, saute onion and curry powder in butter until onion is tender. Remove from the heat; set aside. Carefully scoop out squash; add pulp to saucepan. Gradually add broth. Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until squash is very tender. Cool slightly., In a food processor, process the squash mixture until smooth; return to saucepan. Stir in the cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat until heated through (do not boil). Garnish with bacon if desired.

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.

SPICY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Place halves of acorn squash, cavity facing down, in a 9x13-inch baking pan with 1/2 inch of water. Bake 350 oven for 30 minutes or until squash is tender when center is pierced with a fork.
• While squash is baking, mix together the next 10 ingredients.
• Stuff the squash halves.
• Pour 1 tsp apple juice over each, sprinkle with coriander, and bake in 350 oven for approximately 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and light brown on top. Serves 4.

SPICY ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Place 1/4 cup chicken broth in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Add onion and crushed red pepper; cook 5 minutes or until tender.
• Add remaining 2-3/4 cups broth, squash, salt, and water; bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add rice; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until squash and rice are tender.
• Place peanut butter and half of soup in a blender; cover and process until smooth.
• Pour puree into a bowl.
• Repeat with remaining soup, and add to bowl, stirring well.