Butternut Squash And Parmesan Soup Recipes

SUPERB SQUASH SOUP WITH THE BEST PARMESAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• Put a very large saucepan on a medium heat and pour in a couple of glugs of olive oil.
• Add the sage leaves and fry for around 30 seconds or until dark green and crisp. Quickly remove them with a slotted spoon to a bowl lined with paper towels - you'll use these for sprinkling over at the end. In the pan you'll be left with a beautifully flavored oil, so put it back on the heat and throw in your onion, celery, carrot, garlic, rosemary leaves, chile and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cook gently for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are sweet and soft. Add the squash and the stock to the pan, bring to the boil and simmer for around 30 minutes.
• While the soup is cooking, make your croutons. Drizzle a little olive oil over the ciabatta slices, and press some grated Parmesan onto each side. Place in a non-stick pan without any oil and fry until golden on both sides.
• When the squash is soft and cooked through, whiz the soup with an immersion blender or pour it into a standard blender and pulse until you have a smooth puree* (but you can leave it slightly chunky if you like). Most importantly, remember to taste and season it until it's perfect. Divide the soup between your bowls, placing 2 croutons on top of each. Sprinkle with a few of your crispy sage leaves and drizzle with a swirl of good-quality extra-virgin olive oil.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH SAGE AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, leeks and garlic and cook them until they are soft.
• Add the vegetable or chicken stock, Parmesan pieces or rinds and simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Add the butternut squash, sage, bay leaf, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne. Cook until the squash is tender (about 10 to 15 minutes).
• Remove the bay leaf and the cheese and puree one quarter of the soup in a food processor and return it to the stock pot (the cheese -- not the rind -- can be crumbled or grated as a garnish for the soup). Heat through and correct seasoning. Garnish the soup with scallions and serve. Pass the freshly grated Parmesan separately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PARMESAN SOUP

Steps:

• Gently fry onions, garlic, and chili flakes in olive oil in a large saucepan for about 10 minutes, or until soft and golden.
• Meanwhile cut off the tough skin of the butternut squash. Scrape out and discard the seeds, then roughly chop the flesh and stir it into the sauteed onions. Cover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash begins to soften.
• Add the stock, herbs, and parmesan rind and simmer gently for 45 minutes, or until the squash is meltingly soft.
• Discard the herbs and Parmesan rind, scraping any gooey cheese into the soup.
• In a blender, (careful with the hot liquids) process the soup, add the creme fraiche, and season to taste.
• Serve piping hot with Parmesan cheese shavings.