Spicy Squash Soup

When the weather turns cold there's nothing better than warm soup and fresh bread for dinner.

photo credit: mia3mom

My girlfriend, Holly, gave me this recipe in 1995 and it's still one of my favorites for fall:

Spicy Squash Soup

• 1 winter squash (such as butternut)
• 1 T butter
• 2 small yellow onions, diced
• 1 mild chili pepper, cored, seeded & diced (small)
• 1 quart chicken stock or broth (4 c)
• 1 T ground cumin
• a little salt & pepper to taste
• unsweetened whipped cream for garnish (whip just before using or store in fridge)
• ½ c toasted squash seeds or pine nuts for garnish (w/ a little salt & cumin, if you like)

Preheat the oven to 375º. Cut the squash in half and scrape out all of the pulp & seeds. (Save the seeds.) Place the squash face down in a baking pan with enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, and bake until soft, about 45 minutes. Peel off & discard the skin. Reserve the pan juices and set the squash aside.

In a large stock pot, melt the butter and sauté the onions and chili pepper over low heat. Add the cooked squash and pan juices to the onions; then add the chicken stock or broth and bring to a simmer. Add cumin to the soup and season with salt and pepper.

Use a food processor or blender to puree the soup. Keep warm. Meanwhile, in a hot, dry saucepan, toast the squash seeds or pine nuts over medium-high heat. (You can also roast the seeds in the oven for about 8-12 mins.)

Pour hot soup into 2 shallow soup bowls. Garnish with a drizzle of lightly whipped cream and some toasted squash seeds or pine nuts.

Bon Apétit!