Butternut Squash Soup With Apple & Smoked Cheddar

Submitted by Vino Girl

"From Food & Wine February 2007"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 35mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 3⁄4 cup apple cider
• 1 3⁄4 lbs butternut squash (peeled, seeded and cut into 1 inch cubes - 5 1/4 cups)
• 4 1⁄2 cups chicken stock or 4 1/2 cups low-sodium broth
• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 mcintosh apple, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1⁄3 cup coarsely shredded smoked cheddar cheese
• chives or thinly sliced sage leaf, for garnish

directions

1. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil.
2. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 8 minutes.
3. Add the apple cider and cook until syrupy, about 3 minutes.
4. Add the butternut squash and chicken stock and bring to a boil.
5. Cover and simmer until the squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.
6. In a blender, puree the soup in batches.
7. Return the soup to the saucepan and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
8. Heat a medium skillet.
9. Add the butter and diced apple and cook over high heat until the apple is tender and golden around the edges, about 2 minutes.
10. Remove the skillet from the heat. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
11. Ladle the soup into bowls; garnish with the smoked cheddar, sautéed apples and chives; serve.
12. For Vegetarian do not use Chicken broth or stock. Use Vegetable broth.

Reviews

[Lou6566]

I just tried this. I found it in the Feb. food and wine mag, and let me tell you! This is so very good. Wish there was a pic of it like there is in the magazine! I didn't want to buy a large amount of apple cider cause we don't drink it, so I used apple sauce. I advise grating extra smoked cheddar cheese, also because you'll want a lot garnishing it! The photo shows a couple raw apple slices on top of each bowl of soup also, as a garnish. The apples are unpeeled by the way. If you like apple cider try it that way. This is so good, that I am making it for my son and dil in May for their anniversary dinner that I am doing. Gosh, there just aren't words enough to describe how delicious this was. We just fixed a salad with it, and it filled us up so full we couldn't have seconds! Its a good thing it keeps good.I recomend it highly.