Thursday, March 3, 2011

Butternut Squash - Chipotle Bisque


I often say that this is my favorite or I love what ever it may be that I'm posting. But, I love food in general and have many favorites. However, I can take soups to a whole new level. At any given time, I am either cooking soup, eating soup or looking for my next soup to try. My home is rarely a soup free zone. Now that you know I love soup, I must share this recipe for Butternut Squash-Chipotle Bisque.
This bisque is delicious served hot or cold, as a meal or as a savvy appetizer served in your “finest” shot glass. You can even serve it as a dip with your favorite tortilla chip. The flavor of this recipe will leave your taste buds longing for more of the sweetness of the butternut squash. And let’s not forget the smoky, spicy flavor of the chipotle chilies alongside the chipotle crema and the pepitas.




3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium butternut squash, halved lengthwise, seeds discarded, washed, and reserved
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups chicken broth, divided
3 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo
Chipotle Cream:
1 teaspoon minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds, discarding the stringy pulp. Put seeds in a sieve and rinse. Set aside.

Grease a glass baking dish with 1 tablespoon oil, and then place the squash in the dish, cut side down. Pierce all over with a fork and roast 45 minutes or until tender. Let cool.
Heat remaining oil in a large, heavy pot over medium high. Sauté onion, celery and carrot for 10 minutes. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes more.
Scoop the flesh of the squash into the pot and stir. Add 4 cups of broth and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are very tender.
Meanwhile, toast the reserved squash seeds in a small pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until crunchy, about 30 minutes. Season heavily with salt and set aside. *I did not do this! I placed my seeds on the cookie sheet off to one side with the butternut squash and let them roast for about 10 minutes or so. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t brown too much. Remove them place aside to cool.
Puree the soup in batches in a blender, adding more broth to get the desired consistency.
In a separate bowl, stir 1 teaspoon of the minced chipotle into the crema. Season with salt and pepper.
Stir the remaining 3 teaspoons chipotle into the bisque and ladle into soup bowls. Top each with a dollop of cream and a sprinkling of seeds. Makes 6-8 servings.

Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from: Marcela Valladolid ~ Fresh Mexico
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47 comments:

  1. I adore the chipotle element you add to this. I can just smell the rich soup from the photo. I think this would be a favorite too in my home. Awesome photo.

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  2. What a delicious looking soup! Pumpkin style soup is my favourite. I've never considered putting celery in there..great idea!

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  3. The soup/bisque looks wonderful, so creamy, nourishing and comforting. I eat/drink a lot of soup as well especially at this chilly time of year. Have a nice day.

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  4. You had me at adobo. This sounds fabulous! :)

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  5. This looks divine, as always. Great photo. Another great post.

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  6. this sounds so beautiful, and healthy, love it!

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  7. Oh how delish, what refreshing flavors.

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  8. lovely soup love the kick to it

    have a good weekend

    Rebecca

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  9. This sounds fab! Love soups too, so comforting!

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  10. Love butternut squash soup....but have never made a chipotle to mine. Going to try that next time I make it. The chipotle crema and seeds on top make a perfect finishing touch.

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  11. Beautiful. Printing! I am looking forward to try this!

    Laura

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  12. Yum! I love squash soups and this one looks really outstanding.

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  13. A comforting soup! Gorgeous flavors and texture.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  14. Healthy and delicious soup, love the sounding of that Chipotle cream.

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  15. Love this a LOT! really delicious! gloria

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  16. I love all the elements of flavor in this soup!! Amazing.

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  17. Soup. Squash. .. did I mention soup?
    I think I have a chef crush on your blog.

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  18. Can't blame you, I love soup as well.
    The chipotle cream sounds amazing...and butternut squash is always delicious.

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  19. Chipotle? Yes, I'll have a huge bowl please!!! YUM!!

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  20. Diana! This is gorgeous- i cant wait to try this... Cold or Hot, soup is always one of my favs

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  21. Diana a simply lovely bowl of soup...all my fav flavors, the chipolte crema..divine!! have a great week!
    sweetlife

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  22. this is perfect - I want this now - the rain is pounding against the window its colder out than the thermometer says and I have some crusty bread...

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  23. You know what? I do that, too. Say things are my favorite all the time...and I totally mean it! This bisque sounds delicious, I love the chipotle/squash combo...so warming and great together =)

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  24. I love the addition of the chipotle cream to this soup! Great idea to heat it up in a mild sort of way!

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  25. This is my lucky day - I just happen to have all the ingredients and would love a post of soup for the weekend.

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  26. This is such a lovely soup. I love the splash of heat that has been added to it. This sounds delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  27. This soup sounds fabulous. The sweetness from the squash and the spicy smokiness from the chipotle would be a perfect match. I'm made one with black beans and chipotle before which was excellent. I'm sure that this one would be amazing, too.

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  28. I am such a soup fanatic this one really has such a marvelous combination of flavors I love. What a beautiful presentation. Bravo!

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  29. This looks wonderful, would love to serve this bisque to guests, nice recipe.

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  30. I like the southwestern influence of chipotle and the sweetness of the butternut squash combined. It looks like quite a substantial soup.

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  31. Squash soup is one of my all time favourites and yours sounds delicious. At the moment it's nettle season so I'm thinking nettle is my favourite, but I expect that will change come autumn. Thanks for following my blog.

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  32. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and saying hello! I'm so glad you did, you have some amazing recipes here. My mouth is watering looking at your beautiful pictures - wow!

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  33. Oh now this is something I have never attempted, but you make it look so beautiful and sound so easy. It's a must have for my company who arrives on the 20th. Thanks for sharing this. Just what I was looking for. keri

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  34. Lovely soup. I make one very similar to yours. Hope to see you Sunday.

    Kat

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  35. Sounds & Looks so comforting...just came across your wonderful blog and am a new follower!!!
    - Jessica
    http://cajunlicious.blogspot.com

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  36. This is beautiful soup. I take a lot of pleasure in preparing soup for my family. Soup is enjoyed year round at home. The chiptole and the butternut what a nice flavor combination.

    Cheers.
    Velva

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  37. Hello Diana, I just wanted to see if you'd like a Babble badge for Readers' Choice award to put on your blog as people have nominated it for Babble's best food mom blogs of 2011. If you're interested, please email me at: hannah at babble dot com.

    Thanks,
    Hannah

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  38. such amazing flavors! looks perfect for this rainy day in dallas!

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  39. hope all is well and you are having a great summer!

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  40. So very glad I found your blog. So many AMAZING recipes.

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  41. My Fall Squash plants are already sprouting & I have bookmarked this page. Looks truly delicious! I do love anything chipotle! Bravo!

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  42. This soup sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it with squashes coming into season soon.

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  43. I am a total soup girl, too. I love the chipotle aspect of this!!

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  44. Hello, So Smooth and Creamy!! Healthy and Seasonal...
    Thank you for sharing!

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  45. Whoa, this looks divine!! I will dream of this all week...until I make it! Thank you so much for sharing!

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