For some reason, my daughter Mika got it into her head that she liked butternut squash soup, and she requested that I make it for Christmas. Now, butternut squash soup is not my favorite, but she was pretty insistent, which she rarely is for any food item.
I made this soup based on a (surprise, suprise) epicurious.com recipe. The recipe got great reviews, and people at my dinner table really liked it. In particular, Mika loved it.
Personally, I wasn't sold by it, but I felt the cider cream was an essential ingredient for the soup to work - the sour element gave it an extra dimension to what would otherwise have been pretty bland results. I used Trader Joe's sparkling apple cider, because that's what I found at TJ's. I used Better than Bouillon for the chicken stock - I usually just add the water and the appropriate amount of concentrate, rather than make the stock before hands. It's easier and just as effective.
I made the soup a day in advance and I think that improved it. I'd make it again if my daughter requested it.
On a different note, I found that the easiest way to peel the squash was to cut it into sections and then use a pairing knife to peel.
I didn't change the recipe very much (if at all) - though below I'm providing adjusted ingredients. The original recipe turned out twice the amount of soup I needed to serve 8 as a soup course. There were no leftovers, though.
Butternut squash soup with cider cream
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into small chunks
- 2 medium leeks, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 medium carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
- 1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
- 1 Granny smith apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
- 3/4 tsp. dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp. dried sage leaves
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock.
- 3/4 cup apple cider
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- half bunch of fresh chives, chopped.
Melt butter over medium-high heat in a stock or large pot. Add squash, leeks, carrot and celery. Sautee for about 15 minutes, until soft. Add apples, thyme and sage and mix. Add chicken stock and 1/2 cup of cider. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes, until apples are tender. Cool.
Puree the soup in a blender, in batches. Return to the soup.
Meanwhile boil 1/4 cup cider in a small pan and reduce it by half. Cool. Place sour cream in a small bowl and whisk in the cider.
Bring soup to a slow boil. Add the whipping cream and mix well. Transfer the soup to a serving dish and drizzle with the sour cream. Top with chopped chives.
Bring soup to simmer. Mix in whipping cream. Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle with cider cream. Top with chives.