Squash Nigella Seed Soup Recipes

SPICY ROASTED SQUASH SOUP WITH PUMPKIN SEED PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Make toasts:
• Trim and discard crusts from bread. Spread 1 side of each slice evenly with butter and season with salt and pepper. Halve slices diagonally to form triangles and arrange, buttered sides up, on a baking sheet. Toast bread, turning once, in middle of oven until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer toasts to a rack to cool.
• Make soup:
• Put squash, cut sides down, in 2 greased shallow baking pans and roast in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans halfway through roasting, until very tender, about 1 1/4 hours. Cool and scoop out flesh.
• Purée squash in batches in a blender with jalapeño, cumin, and broth until very smooth (add additional water as needed to facilitate puréeing).Transfer to a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot and stir in 5 cups water. Simmer, stirring, 10 minutes, then stir in lemon juice, enough water to thin to desired consistency, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve soup in bowls topped with slices of toast spread with pesto.

ROASTED SQUASH SOUP WITH CUMIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line 1 large and 1 small baking sheet with aluminum foil. With a large knife, split the squash in half, then scoop out and reserve the seeds. Brush the cut side of the squash with 2 teaspoons of oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on the large baking sheet and roast until very tender, about 35 minutes.
• Remove any orange fibers from seeds and rinse them under running water. Drain and place on paper towels to dry. Toss seeds with the remaining teaspoon of oil and 1/2 teaspoon of the cumin, and season with salt. Place on the small baking sheet, cover loosely with foil and roast along with the squash, stirring occasionally, until well browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Scoop the flesh from the squash shells and place it in a kettle. Add the chicken stock, garlic, vinegar, sugar, cayenne and remaining cumin. Bring to a boil, lower and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Working in small batches, transfer the soup to the container of a blender and blend until smooth. Return the soup to the pan. Stir in the cream and bring back just to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve garnished with the cumin seeds.

BUTTERCUP SQUASH SOUP WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, salt, and pepper to the hot oil and cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add squash, garlic, sage, rosemary, ginger, and sugar; mix to combine. Dissolve bouillon in hot water and pour into the pot. Stir to combine.
• Bring soup to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until squash is soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and puree using an immersion blender.