Hearty Pumpkin Chowder Or Butternut Squash Recipes

HEARTY PUMPKIN CHOWDER (OR BUTTERNUT SQUASH)

Steps:

• Saute onion, celery, pumpkin, ginger and garlic in butter 5 minutes over medium heat.
• Stir in broth, potatoes, lima beans, corn and bell pepper.
• Boil then cover and simmer 15 minutes.
• Add ham.
• Whisk milk, flour, salt and nutmeg in a medium bowl.
• Stir milk mixture into pot and bring to boil.
• Stir a few minutes until thickened.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring frequently, until crispy, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the pan and return the pan to medium heat. Add the onion, celery, bay leaf, chopped sage, the 4 teaspoons salt and the 1 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, just until the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in the potatoes, cover and cook, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes.
• Add the wine and simmer, stirring to scrape up the browned bits, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broth and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and gently simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes.
• Add the butternut squash puree and bacon and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the cream and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf and discard.
• Ladle the chowder into warmed bowls and garnish with sage leaves. Serve immediately.
• Making Squash Puree:.
• 2 butternut squash (about 3 3/4 pounds).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut each squash in half and discard the seeds. Bursh cut sides with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Arrange the squash cut side down on a rack placed in a baking tray and bake until tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Cool, scoop out the insides of the squash, and puree the flesh in a food processor. You should have about 4 cups or 32 ounces of pureed squash. Tip: You can freeze your squash puree to have on hand for other soups and recipes.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUMPKIN PIE RECIPE

Steps:

• Cut the butternut squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and place the squash flesh side down on a baking tray. It helps to line the tray with baking paper. Roast at 375°F / 190°C / 170°C Fan assisted oven for an hour. Take out and allow to cool.
• When room temperature, peel the skin off -- a potato peeler works a treat. Next, blend the squash into a purée using a food processor or a stick (immersion) blender. You'll need about four cups of butternut squash purée for this recipe.
• You can skip this step by purchasing a ready-made pie crust but it's worth the extra effort! Cut the butter into the flour and salt using two crisscrossing butter knives or a pastry cutter. The latter will save you hassle though. What you're aiming to do is mix the butter with the dry ingredients without melting it. It should have the texture of fine crumbs when you're finished.
• When it's ready, begin adding the cold water. Stir it into the mix until the pastry dough starts sticking together and cleaning the side of the bowl.
• Roll the dough into a ball and then out flat on a floured surface, roll it so that it fits your pie pan. It should be wide enough to over-hang the edges by an inch. To get it in the pan, I find rolling it up on the rolling pin and then unrolling it onto the pan works a treat. You can fold the edges up like mine if you wish or just trim and press the edges to the outer side of the pan.
• To make sure that your crust is crispy, you'll need to 'blind bake' it. Preheat the oven to 350°F / 175°C / 165°C Fan-assisted oven. Line the pie crust with a sheet of foil or baking paper and then pour three or four cups of hard, uncooked beans* (or rice) in. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes or until the crust has firmed up.
• In a bowl, beat the eggs with the spices, vanilla, and oil. Pour it into the pumpkin purée and stir well. Next, stir in the can of sweetened condensed milk and the cream. When it's blended, pour into the pre-baked pie crust.
• Bake the pie for an hour or until the center is set. It may bubble or crack around the edges but that just adds to its charm. Cool it for at least 30 minutes before serving -- you can serve it at room temperature or chilled. I like a nice dollop of cinnamon whipped cream served with mine.

HEARTY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• In a stockpot, cook sausage, onion and red pepper over medium heat 9-11 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and onion is tender, breaking up sausage into crumbles. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside; discard drippings., Add squash, 1-1/2 cups corn, water and chicken base to same pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 15-20 minutes or until squash is tender., Remove soup from heat; cool slightly. Process in batches in a blender until smooth. Return to pot. Add beans, tomatoes, salt, pepper, sausage mixture and remaining corn; heat through. If desired, drizzle servings with cream and sprinkle with parsley. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.

EASY BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Pour broth in a medium saucepan, cover, and heat over medium-low heat until warm, about 10 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add rice; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add wine and simmer, stirring constantly, until absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup warm broth and simmer, stirring frequently, until it is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining broth, adding 1/2 cup at a time and stirring until all broth is absorbed and rice is tender and creamy, about 25 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, puree cooked squash. Add pureed squash to rice with 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, sage, salt, and pepper. Stir until cheese is melted. Garnish with remaining Parmesan and serve immediately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Using spoon, scrape out seeds from squash; reserve squash seeds. Combine 1 1/2 cups water, squash seeds and 1 tablespoon salt in small saucepan. Bring to boil. Strain seeds; rinse under cold water to remove any squash pieces from seeds. Pat seeds dry with paper towel. Toss seeds with 1/2 teaspoon oil in small bowl. Sprinkle with salt. Transfer to baking sheet. Place squash on baking sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon oil. Roast seeds until toasted, about 6 minutes. Roast squash until tender and lightly browned, turning once, about 45 minutes. Cut squash into 3/4-inch pieces.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, 1 1/3 cups corn, garlic, coriander, cardamom, cumin, cayenne and cloves; sauté until onions are tender, about 8 minutes. Add squash and 6 cups water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes.
• Working in batches, puree chowder in processor until smooth. Return chowder to same pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Add potato and remaining 2/3 cup corn kernels; simmer until potato is cooked through, thinning chowder with more water if necessary, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon chowder into bowls. Garnish with toasted squash seeds and serve.