Roasted Pear and Delicata Squash Soup with Parmesan Croutons
- Roasted Pear and Delicata Squash Soup
- 2 pounds delicata squash or butternut squash, cut in half lengthwise and seeded
- 2 firm but ripe Anjou or Bartlett USA Pears, cut in half lengthwise and cored
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Parmesan Croutons
- 2 cups ½-inch cubes of French or rustic white bread, crusts removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
For soup: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the flesh of the squash and pears with olive oil and place, cut side down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 to 35 minutes.
Use a spoon to scrape out the flesh of the squash and pears, and put in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Discard the skins. Puree until smooth. Add 1 to 2 cups of the chicken broth and continue processing until smooth. Put this mixture in a 3 ½- to 4-quart saucepan, add the remaining chicken broth, cream, nutmeg, and sugar. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
For croutons: Place the bread cubes in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over, add Parmesan, and toss the bread cubes until thoroughly coated. Spread in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until toasty brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside until ready to serve.
When ready to serve, ladle the soup into a warmed soup tureen or individual soup bowls, garnish with the croutons, and serve immediately.
yield: Serves 6
- Serving Size: 10 oz
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 13g
- Carbohydrate: 31g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Dietary Fiber: 7g
This is my go-to soup for winter entertaining – simple ingredients, simple-to-make, and always gets rave reviews.