Tex Mex Butternut Bisque Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S BUTTERNUT BISQUE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a pot over medium-low heat. Add onions and a large pinch of salt. Cook and stir until onions have softened but not taken on any color, about 10 or 15 minutes.
• Cut off ends of squash. Carefully cut squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler. Cut into chunks.
• Raise heat under pot to medium-high. Stir in tomato paste; cook and stir until mixture begins to caramelize and turn brown, about 2 minutes. Add squash, chicken broth, 1 teaspoon salt, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until squash is very tender, 15 to 25 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Blend with an immersion blender until very smooth. Stir in cream and maple syrup; add more salt if needed.
• Ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with a swirl of cream, and a sprinkle of chives and pomegranate seeds.

TEX-MEX TOMATO SOUP AND GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat a griddle pan for the grilled cheese over medium heat.
• Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and melt 2 tablespoons butter into the oil. Add the garlic, onions, chipotle, adobo sauce and some salt and pepper. Partially cover the pot and cook to soften, 10 minutes or so. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until fragrant, 2 minutes, then deglaze the pan with 2 cups of the chicken stock and transfer to a food processor. Add the tomatoes and process until smooth. Pour the soup back into pot and add the remainder of stock. Simmer at a low bubble while you make the grilled cheese.
• Lightly butter 1 side of the bread slices. Make the cheese sandwiches with, and grill until crispy and the cheese melts.
• Stir the sour cream into the tomato soup and serve in shallow bowls with chives to garnish, and grilled cheese on the side for dipping.

TEX-MEX BUTTERNUT BISQUE

Steps:

• In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Add squash, chili powder, cumin and salt; cook 1 minute. Stir in broth and green chiles. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover; simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until squash is fork-tender.
• Remove from heat; stir in tortilla pieces. Cool 15 minutes. In blender or food processor, process mixture in batches until smooth, stopping to scrape down side as needed. Return squash mixture to Dutch oven.
• Stir in half-and-half; cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Garnish individual servings with root vegetable chips.