Silky Butternut Squash Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Cut squash in half lengthwise. Scrape out seeds & fibers, reserve.
• Heat butter in large Dutch oven over medium-low heat until foaming. Add shallots and cook, stirring, frequently, until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add squash scrapings and seeds and cook until fragrant and butter turns a golden color, about 3-4 minutes.
• Add 4 cups of water and 1 teaspoon salt to Dutch oven, bring to boil over high head. Reduce heat to medium. Place steamer basket in pot, and place squash cut-side down (in chunks, if necessary) in basket. Cook, covered, until squash is completely tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat. Use tongs to transfer squash to a rimmed baking sheet or platter. Reserve liquid in pot. When cool enough, scrape flesh from squash into a medium bowl; discard skin.
• Strain steaming liquid through mesh strainer into a second bowl. Discard solids in strainer.
• Rinse & dry Dutch oven.
• Return steaming liquid & squash chunks to pot. Puree to desired smoothness with stick blender. (or puree in batches in regular blender)
• Add up to 2 cups additional water if too thick. Heat over low to medium heat until hot. Add cream and brown sugar, and more salt to taste.
• Serve immediately, topped with homemade or store-bought croutons.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat; cook the onion, garlic, and thyme in the hot butter until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes. Add the squash and chicken stock; bring to a simmer and cook until the squash is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Crumble the bouillon into the soup; season with cumin, allspice, salt, and pepper; remove from heat.
• Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway. Hold the lid of the blender in place with a 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 serving bowl. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup in the pot.