Thanksgiving Pumpkin Bisque Recipes

PUMPKIN AND SHRIMP BISQUE

Steps:

• 1. Shrimp stock: Peel and devein shrimp, reserving the shells. Cover the shrimp and refrigerate. Heat the olive oil in a medium (3-quart) heavy-bottomed saucepan over high heat until it begins to smoke. Add the shrimp shells to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until they turn deep orange and are just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. This step-pan roasting the shells-gives the stock much of its flavor, so take the time to do it carefully. The roasted shells should release a concentrated, toasty, shrimp aroma that will fill your kitchen. Add the wine to the pan, first turning off gas flames to prevent the alcohol from igniting, then boil it over medium heat until all the liquid is evaporated. Add the chicken stock, saffron, celery, onion, bay leaves, and sage. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Partially cover the pan and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Strain the stock through a fine sieve, pushing down on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract all the liquid. Rinse out the saucepan and pour the stock back into it.
• 2. Soup: Whisk the pumpkin, cream, salt (omit if using canned stock), and cayenne into the shrimp stock. Bring the soup to a simmer, then cook very gently uncovered over low heat for 10 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, taste, and season with black pepper and more salt if needed. (The soup can be made up to this point up to 1 day ahead store covered in the refrigerator. Keep the peeled shrimp in a resealable bag buried in a bowl of ice in the refrigerator.)
• 3. Finishing the soup: Pour the olive oil into a large sauté pan placed over medium heat. When hot, add the reserved shrimp and sage and cook, tossing often, until the shrimp is just cooked through, pink, and no longer translucent, but not curled into a circle, 2 to 3 minutes. They should still have a tender snap when you bite into them. Arrange the shrimp in warmed serving bowls or a tureen. Bring the soup back to a simmer and then ladle it over the shrimp. Serve right away.
• Variation
• Substitute winter squash purée, such as butternut or acorn, for the pumpkin.

GINGERED PUMPKIN BISQUE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, saute the shallots, onion and ginger in oil until tender. Stir in flour until blended; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Gradually stir in broth and cider. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened., Stir in the pumpkin, syrup and seasonings. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; cool slightly., In a blender, process soup in batches until smooth. Return all to the pan. Stir in cream and vanilla; heat through (do not boil). If desired, drizzle individual servings with additional cream and garnish with thyme sprigs.

NUTTY PUMPKIN BISQUE

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in stock, pumpkin, sherry, brown sugar and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes., Stir in cream, pecans and seeds. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Process in batches in a blender until smooth. Return all to pan; heat through. If desired, serve with optional toppings.

PUMPKIN BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Butter one large cookie sheet.
• Stir together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the pumpkin and mix to form a soft dough.
• On a lightly floured surface pat the dough out to 1/2 inch thick. Cut out biscuits with a round 2 inch cutter. Place biscuits on the prepared cookie sheet.
• Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm from the oven.

PUMPKIN BISQUE

Steps:

• Steam or boil the pumpkin or squash until tender.
• Sauté onions over medium heat in olive oil until translucent.
• Using a high-speed blender, combine pumpkin, onions, stock, garlic, wine, maple syrup and spices and blend until smooth.
• Warm soup in saucepan. Serve hot, garnished with pumpkin seeds and a drizzle of pumpkin seed oil, if desired.

AUTUMN PUMPKIN BISQUE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat.
• Add onions and bell pepper; saute until soften, about 8 minutes.
• Add curry powder and stir 1 minute.
• Add broth and next 4 ingredients; bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with grated cheddar cheese.

SMOKY PUMPKIN BISQUE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat; stir in onion. Cook and stir until onion has softened and browned, about 5 minutes. Add bacon crumbles; cook for 1 minute. Stir in sweet vermouth, ancho chile powder, chipotle powder, and cinnamon. Reduce heat to low and stir in pumpkin; simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in half-and-half until smooth.

THANKSGIVING PUMPKIN BISQUE

Steps:

• Simmer pumpkin in the chicken stock until soft and tender about 25 minutes.
• Transfer pumpkin to a food processor and puree.
• Return pumpkin to the chicken stock.
• In a skillet heat butter to bubbling over medium-high heat.
• Add minced onion and sauté until clear.
• Add garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
• Add salt, thyme, ginger and brown sugar.
• Add this mixture to the simmering pumpkin stock.
• Whisk in the lemon juice and pepper.
• Heat through uncovered for 25 minutes.
• Stir in the cream and heat 10 minutes.
• Top with nutmeg-thyme croutons.
• ---------CROUTONS---------.
• Heat butter and oil in a skillet over medium high heat until sizzling.
• Add bread crumbs and toss quickly to coat and fry, stirring until golden brown.
• Remove from heat and toss with thyme, nutmeg and seasoned salt.
• Cool to room temperature.

SHIITAKE MUSHROOM BISQUE WITH PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a large heavy saucepan. Add onion and saute until tender but not brown. Add garlic, saute a few minutes longer, then stir in the mushrooms.
• Saute, stirring, for several minutes, then add pumpkin and stock. Simmer about 30 minutes until the pumpkin is tender.
• Puree the mixture in a blender or a food processor.
• Return the puree to the saucepan and add the half-and-half. Bring to a simmer and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and parsley.

CURRIED PUMPKIN BISQUE WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions and bell pepper; sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes. Add curry powder and stir 1 minute. Add 5 cups broth and next 4 ingredients and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes to blend flavors, stirring frequently. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm over medium heat, adding more broth if soup is too thick.) Ladle soup into bowls. Top with grated cheese.