Here’s a delicious soup I prepared for lunch with friends the other day. It’s a slow cooker recipe from the folks at America’s Test Kitchen. I love their recipes because they test the living daylights out of everything to make sure they’ve created really yummy dishes.
Butternut Squash Chowder
6 slices bacon, chopped fine
1 onion, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme or 3/4 tsp. dried
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/3 cup flour
4 c. chicken broth
3 c. vegetable broth
3 lb. butternut squash, (8 c.) peeled, seeded, cut into 1/2 ” pieces
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
salt and pepper
8 oz. kale, stemmed, leaves sliced into 1/4 ” strips
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 tbsp. fresh sage, minced (optional)
1 tsp. brown sugar
grated Parmesan cheese
Cook bacon in 12″ skillet over med. high heat until crisp. Stir in onion, garlic, thyme and nutmeg and cook until onion is lightly browned. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 2 c. chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer to slow cooker.
Stir remaining broths, half of squash and bay leaves into slow cooker. Toss remaining squash with oil, season with salt and pepper and wrap in foil packet. Lay foil packet on top of soup. Cover and cook 4 – 6 hours on low.
Transfer foil packet to plate. Remove bay leaves. Stir kale into soup, cover and cook on high 20 – 30 minutes.
Carefully open foil packet and stir squash and accumulated juice into soup. Stir in cream, sage and sugar and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, extra nutmeg to taste, and parmesan. Serve and enjoy!
I served this soup to my charming guests on Valentine’s day. We shared a simple meal, latte’s, some stashed Christmas cookies and great conversation. Nice to spend time together.
White on black is OK with me. Works well when my house is brightly lit by the sun…the warm New Mexico sun.
LikeLike
Thanks, Hilary. I like it too or I wouldn’t have stuck with it this long, but there MIGHT be another theme I like as well. I just have to take the time to look. I know there are a lot of themes I don’t like… Hope the season is going well. Miss you guys!
LikeLike
This is a great soup recipe and a little different from what I tend to prepare routinely! I can imagine it serves very nicely as a soup for guests. Anything with cream and sage has my attention! đŸ™‚
LikeLike
We still have chilly spell here Terri this looks like just the job and more to keep warm !
LikeLike
It was surprisingly good. Do let me know if you give it a try!
LikeLike
Such a hearty sounding soup, and a unique preparation too. If I may make a comment about your blog … you write about such lovely things but I often don’t read your posts because I find the red and white on the black background harsh on the eyes. I don’t know if others have the same experience but thought I would mention it.
LikeLike
Thanks for mentioning that. I’ve actually not heard that before, but perhaps not everyone will speak up! I’m thinking about playing with my theme in the future – as soon as I find the time!
LikeLike