Kabocha Squash Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack on the top third. Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds, then cut into 2-inch wedges. Combine squash, onion, and garlic on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle generously with oil and season with salt; toss to coat, then spread in a single layer. Roast until squash is tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, about 30 minutes, rotating pan and flipping vegetables halfway through (remove garlic and reserve if browning too quickly). Let cool slightly; when cool enough to handle, remove skins from squash and discard.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add chile strips and spices; toast, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and chile has softened slightly (1-2 minutes). Add roasted vegetables and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare garnishes: Using tongs, roast corn over an open flame on medium-high, or under the broiler, turning occasionally, until kernels are tender and charred in spots, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, cut corn kernels off of cob. Heat pepitas in a small skillet over medium-high, stirring, until toasted and popping (about 4 minutes). Set aside. To make crema, mix sour cream and 2 tablespoons water.
• In batches, puree soup in a blender. Season with salt. Strain for smoother texture, if desired. Return blended soup to the pot and reheat gently on the stove. Divide into bowls and serve with blackened corn kernels, toasted pepitas, crema, and lime wedges.

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir green onions until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add kabocha squash, shrimp, sugar, and salt; cook and stir until squash is lightly browned but still tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
• Bring chicken broth to a boil in a pot; add squash and shrimp. Pour in enough water to cover squash by 1/2 inch. Simmer until squash is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Get a kabocha squash. You'll be using the skin of the squash, so start by washing the squash under water. Cut the squash in half. The skin is quite hard, so you need to be very careful. Clean out the seeds, and place the squash, cut halves down, on a baking pan. Bake for 1 hour at 350°F Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Dice up the onion and garlic cloves. Get out a pressure cooker and add a splash of olive oil. Lightly brown the onion and garlic. Pour in two cans of chicken (or vegetable) stock and 1/4 cup white wine. Check out that kabocha squash you took out of the oven earlier. You will be adding in the entire squash, skin and all, but not the hard little stem at the top of the squash. The squash will be very soft, and the skin will tear easily.Discard that hard stem at the top of the squash. Add the squash to the pressure cooker, and everything else on the ingredient list.
• Seal up the pressure cooker and cook at pressure for 8 minutes. Cool the pressure cooker using the cold water release method. Open the lid of the pressure cooker, and use an immersion blender (a "stick blender") and puree the soup to a smooth consistency. Serve hot.

Steps:

• In a medium size pan, place adzuki beans and cover with enough water. Bring it to boil, turn off heat and drain.
• Add about 3 times the amount of water as beans and cook for 50 - 60 minutes until the beans are soft. (If you have a pressure cooker, it only takes about 13 - 15 minutes under pressure). Drain the water.
• In a soup pot, put onion, kabocha squash and sweet potato. Cover with enough water and cook until vegetables are soft.
• Puree the vegetables using a blender, food processor or hand blender. Add salt.
• Serve with cooked adzuki beans and chopped parsley on top.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Using a heavy, sharp knife, cut the squash in half top to bottom. Scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp. (If desired, save the seeds for roasting.) Brush cut sides of squash with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Place squash cut side up on the baking sheet and roast until tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour.
• When the squash is nearly done roasting, heat remaining tablespoon oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened but not taken on any color, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook, stirring more frequently, until the onion is uniformly golden brown, another 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in cumin, cinnamon and cayenne. Stir in lemon juice, scraping up any stuck bits from the pan, and remove from heat.
• When the squash is tender, scoop the flesh out of the shell and into the saucepan, breaking it up. Stir in 2 cups stock and 3 tablespoons miso. Transfer to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. You may have to do this in shifts depending on the capacity of your machine. Return to the pot, add remaining 3 cups stock and bring to a simmer over medium, stirring often. Taste and add salt and more cayenne if desired.
• Transfer 2 tablespoons soup to a small saucepan and whisk in remaining tablespoon miso over low heat.
• Divide the soup among bowls or cups and drizzle a small amount of the miso-soup mixture on each serving, tracing it on the surface with a knife. To make ahead, cover and refrigerate soup until ready to serve, up to 3 days. (It can be frozen for up to 1 month.) Reheat soup before serving.