Roasted Kabocha Squash Soup With Pancetta And Sage Recipes

KABOCHA SQUASH RISOTTO WITH SAGE AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add squash; sprinkle with sea salt and sauté until beginning to brown, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add chopped sage, and cook until just tender, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle Sherry wine vinegar over; toss to incorporate. Transfer squash to plate. Wipe skillet clean.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in same skillet over high heat. Add chopped onions, sprinkle with sea salt, and sauté until onions are soft and beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until onions are soft and deep golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes; set aside. Bring 31⁄2 cups water and vegetable broth to simmer in large saucepan. Cover and keep warm over low heat.
• Add arborio rice to onions in skillet. Stir until rice is slightly translucent, about 4 minutes. Add Sherry; stir until absorbed. Add 1 cup warm broth mixture; stir until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Continue adding broth mixture by cupfuls until rice is just tender but still firm to bite and risotto is creamy, stirring almost constantly and adding squash after 15 minutes, about 20 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in 6 tablespoons toasted pine nuts. Transfer squash risotto to large wide serving bowl. Sprinkle remaining toasted pine nuts over risotto.
• Top risotto with shaved Parmesan and crumbled Pancetta.

WINTER SQUASH CARBONARA WITH PANCETTA AND SAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8-10 minutes. Add sage and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pancetta and sage to a small bowl; set aside.
• Add squash, onion, and garlic to skillet; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 8-10 minutes. Add broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until squash is soft and liquid is reduced by half, 15-20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then purée in a blender until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Reserve skillet.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Combine pasta, squash purée, and 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid in reserved skillet and cook over medium heat, tossing and adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until sauce coats pasta, about 2 minutes. Mix in 1/4 cup Pecorino; season with salt and pepper.
• Serve pasta topped with reserved pancetta and sage, shaved Pecorino, and more pepper.
• DO AHEAD: Squash purée can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

ROASTED KABOCHA SQUASH SOUP WITH PANCETTA AND SAGE

Steps:

• Roast squash:
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Roast squash, cut sides down, in an oiled roasting pan in middle of oven until tender, about 1 hour. When cool enough to handle, scrape flesh from skin.
• Fry sage leaves while squash roasts:
• Heat vegetable oil in a deep small saucepan until it registers 365°F on a deep-fat thermometer. Fry sage leaves in 3 batches until crisp, 3 to 5 seconds. Transfer leaves with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Cook pancetta and make soup:
• Cook pancetta in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring, until browned. Transfer pancetta with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Add olive oil to pancetta fat remaining in pot, then cook onion, stirring, until softened. Stir in garlic and chopped sage and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add squash, broth, and water and simmer 20 minutes to blend flavors.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender, transferring to a bowl. (Use caution when blending hot liquids.) Return soup to pot and reheat. If necessary, thin to desired consistency with water.
• Stir in vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve sprinkled with pancetta and fried sage leaves.

ROASTED SQUASH WITH PANCETTA AND SAGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes and put them in a large bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and toss to coat.
• Spread the squash on a baking sheet in one layer and roast for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned and cooked through. (You may need to turn the pan several times for even browning.) Remove, and cool to room temperature on the baking sheet.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook until barely crisp, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the garlic and sage. Spoon the pancetta, garlic and sage evenly over the squash.
• With a spatula, carefully pile the squash into an oven-proof serving dish. If not serving immediately, keep at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours; or cover and refrigerate, then bring to room temperature, before reheating in a 400-degree oven for 10 minutes.