Butternut Squash Soup

{photo credit: martha stewart}

SERVINGS: 6   TIME:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 orange
• 3 thin slices peeled fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
• 10 whole black peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 Spanish onion, cut into ½ inch pieces
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 6 cups homemade or low-sodium canned chicken stock
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 small (about 1 3/4 pounds each) butternut squash, peeled, halved and seeded, and flesh cut into 1-inch pieces

DIRECTIONS:

1. Using a vegetable peeler, remove zest from orange in long strips; reserve flesh for another use. Make a bouquet garni by wrapping zest, ginger, coriander, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth; tie kitchen twine around top of bundle.
2. In a medium stockpot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and starts to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add bouquet garni; cook 2 minutes more. Add stock; bring to a boil.
3. Add sweet potato and squash to pot; return to a gentle simmer, and partially cover. Cook until vegetables are just beginning to fall apart, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly.
4. In a blender, puree soup in batches, being careful not to fill more than halfway. Pour soup into a clean pot; cook over medium heat until just heated through. Serve garnished with nuts, if desired.

NOTES:

SOURCE: Martha Stewart