Monday, August 31, 2009

Creamy Winter Squash Soup



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Butternut squash and pumpkin have started to appear in our farmer's markets. I'm delighted. I've been waiting for their arrival so that I could try a recipe I found earlier this summer. I'd been looking for a soup to replace the corn chowder I normally serve with our Thanksgiving meal and I had the good fortune to stumble on this recipe develop by Ed Chamberlain. The use of cardamom and allspice leads me to believe the soup has Scandinavian origins. It's delicious, simple to make and freezes well. The next time I make it I plan to use acorn squash. The butternut squash is delicious but I want more depth of color than it provides. You'll need about 3 pounds of squash to make this soup. I simmer it in stock, but it could also be baked and pureed before adding it to the soup pot. While I used fresh pumpkin, it was overkill and unnecessary work. Canned pumpkin can be substituted. As a matter of fact, frozen squash could also be used. I finished the soup with heavy cream but whole milk or light cream would also work for those who prefer their soup on the lighter side. There is, however, no substitute for the cardamom.

Creamy Winter Squash Soup
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
2 medium (1-1/2 pounds each) butternut squash
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups canned or fresh pumpkin puree
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups heavy cream, light cream or whole milk
Optional Garnish:
Croutons
Creme fraiche

Directions:
1) Peel the squash; cut into chunks. Place in a soup pot. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Transfer squash and some chicken broth to bowl of a food processor; puree until smooth.
2) Return squash puree to soup pot. Add pumpkin puree, honey, ginger, cardamom, allspice, salt and pepper. Heat, stirring until smooth and heated through. Add heavy cream and stir until blended. If desired, garnish soup with creme fraiche and croutons. Yield: 8 servings.

This post is being liked to Mellow Yellow Monday.

51 comments :

From the Old InkWell said...

Mary, thank you for your comment.

I was just strolling through your recipes and beautiful photos and now I think it's time for a midnight snack! :)

Speedcat Hollydale said...

Looks FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!

Hello from SpeedyCat ;-)

Regina said...

Yummy!

MYM said...

Oh yum. That looks and sounds delicious!

theUngourmet said...

What a lovely soup! I bet the honey in this is just delightful! Mmm!

Angie said...

Hey, that looks really GOOD. Have to rush out & buy cardamon now, before winter ends. Spring is here tomorrow!

SnoWhite said...

that just screams fall. delicious.

NKP said...

I love cardamom too, such a great idea to use it in a squash soup.
It has cooled down here, especially at night, it won't be long before the frost is on the pumpkin!

Martha said...

One of my favorites but I'll have to try your version! Looks yummy but then all of your receipes do!

Kristin said...

Sounds delish & so easy! I'm not ready for the fall veggies yet!!! I still want it to be summer....

Haden News said...

This does look like a wonderful addition to a holiday menu!!

Cathy said...

We're definitely getting into soup weather. I can feel fall in the air. I'll try this soup recipe soon as butternut squash is my favorite.

Heather S-G said...

Sounds delicious and would go great with the cool air streaming in my window right now :) I made a cool weather-type soup this weekend, too...haven't blogged it yet, but 'tis the season! :P

Joy Tilton said...

This is the oddest summer, cool early on and now August with 50 degree mornings. It sure gets me in the mood for cool weather meals, soups at the top of that list! The cardamom is such a wonderful distinctive flavor, very fall. I will definatly try this one, thank you!

Dee said...

oh be still my beating heart! this soup looks SO good

i am sooo longing for cooler weather! part of the reason is so that i can fully enjoy the foods of winter and fall!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I'm waiting for gourds and buternut squash and pumpking too!

This soup looks and sounds so flavorful. I can't wait for the weather to get cooler so i can try this Mary!

Gaby said...

I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can make this! fabulous soup!

Olga said...

That's one good looking soup :)
I make mine w/savory flavors and sometimes add roasted pears.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

It sounds and looks lovely, though I have to confess... I have just never been able to find a taste for butternut squash soup. I don't know why except that my favorite soups lean more toward the savory and butternut soups always have that sweet factor to them. I'm the same way with cold summer soups too - I expect my soup to be hot.

I know I must change my mindset! Perhaps I'll give this one a try since you recommend it. It takes awhile for butternut to show up down here, but I do have some puree in the freezer.

Maria Berg said...

Winter - I want it to be summer still. But it does get colder an d a good warm soup is always welcome. MB

Queen B. said...

that looks amazing :)
thanks for the comment you left me.

Judi said...

Hi Mary
Oh I love those wonderful veggies from the fall...the squash and sweet potatoes and oh my...
YOur soup recipe sounds very delish and thats a great picture.
I may have to give that one a try..mmmmmmmmm..
Hope you have a lovely day
Judi

Candy said...

I don't think I have ever taste squash soup but sounds like a good thing for a cold winter's day.
Thanks for stopping by and your sweet comments ;-)

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Mmmm, I love squash soup; it's one of my favourites! Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Sandi

Unknown said...

Your dishes are not only delicious looking but also works of art!

Thank you for coming by my blog and leaving such nice comments!

Anonymous said...

What a amazing blog! I shall be trying some of your recipes for sure.
Thankyou for visiting my blog too. Have a amazing week xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary, This soup looks so delicious. It's one I will certainly try this fall. I hope you are having a lovely day :>)

Mom Knows Everything said...

I've never had squash soup before, but I LOVE squash!

Becca said...

Wow, that is so yellow lol

LADYHIGHTOWER said...

This sounds and looks delicious!

VioletSky said...

Squash and pumpkin soups are my favourites. I always like to try out new variations. Your soup looks gorgeous in that black soup bowl, too.

jeanne said...

Hi Mary, I was gone all day until now so I am behind in my visits. Your squash soup recipe sounds delicious. My friend makes a squash soup but this is different. I love to use heavy cream in my cream soups. I love the rich taste.

have a great evening.

Hugs...Jeanne

Stephanie V said...

Yummy squash soup - the color is always so warming. Gotta try that one when it gets a bit cooler. Thanks for the visit.

Debbie said...

Oh that looks delicious! I'm glad that you can use canned pumpkin for this. Makes it so much easier....

Lori E said...

Well it all sounds delicious to me except the cardamom. It is the one taste I just don't like.:-{

Carol at Serendipity said...

Looks absolutely delicious - if there were any leftover I might just stir a bit into risotto at the last minute!
Carol

b13 said...

My day WAS full of sunshine :) Thanks for stopping by... because now I have a site to come to for some fantastic looking recipes!

That soup looks SCRUMPTIOUS!

Lori said...

I wonder if roasting the squash might give you the color you desire.

This is the kind of soup that makes me want to start seeing the winter squash at my market.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Lori, that's an excellent suggestion. You now got me thinking - Bob would tell you that's dangerous :-).

Debra Kaye said...

I just love squash soup! This sounds yummy....thanks for the recipe!

Blessings to you!

The Blonde Duck said...

It's down to 90! Perfect soup weather!

Unknown said...

Yum! I love fall and pumpkin soup, and butternut squash, and corn chowdah(I'm in Boston, ya know!)

Shirl said...

Hello, thank you so much for stopping by. Beautiful post, looks yummy!
Bless you, Shirl
SHirle Rose Cottage

Carletta said...

As they say on the food shows - well plated! :)

Jenny in Maine said...

Mary, your photos are so beautiful I just want to print them all out and hang them in every room in my home!! And of course, the food, makes me hungry!! Such a wonderful mix of recipes that aren't the same 'ole same ole!! I truly love your blog, and your grandsons are too adorable!!!

Katy ~ said...

Sounds soup-er delicious. Sorry for the bad pun, grins! Really, this sounds excellent and in our little house, a little upscale. Will definitely add this to my must-make stash.

Deb in Hawaii said...

Gorgeous soup! I love the color!

Nedekcir said...

Wow, your pictures are very appetizing. Thanks for stopping mine.

Enjoy your week!

Nukke said...

Squash soup is something that I have never ever tasted ! Looks so delicious, rich colour !!!!

Annie Jeffries said...

This looks pretty enough to EAT. LOL

Unknown said...

Looks delicious and is beautifully shot!

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