BUTTERCUP SQUASH & LEEK SOUP W/ HERB BUTTER
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HERB BUTTER:
1 medium shallot, finely chopped (about 2 Tbs.)
½ cup dry sherry
½ lb (16 Tbs.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 Tbs chopped fresh chives
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp ground white pepper
SOUP:
4 cups chopped, well washed leeks, white part only (about 3 large)
8 cups peeled, seeded and diced (1-inch cubes) buttercup squash (about 3 medium)
½ cup dry white wine
6 cups homemade or low-salt canned chicken stock or vegetable stock
2½ Tbs kosher salt
1 tsp ground white pepper (more to taste)
chopped fresh chives for garnish
1. Make herb butter: Heat a small nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. When hot, add the shallots and heat to release their aroma and lightly toast them, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and add the sherry. Set the pan back on the heat and reduce the liquid to 2 Tbs., about 8 minutes. Let cool. In a small mixing bowl, blend the butter, chives, sherry-shallot mixture, salt, and pepper. Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper and spread the butter ¼-inch thick to cover about 8×6 inches. Cover and chill. With a small cookie cutter (star suggested) or a knife, cut out 12 small shapes. Wrap in plastic and freeze; freeze the remainder separately for the turkey.
2. Make the soup: Put leeks in a heavy- based non-aluminum, 8-quart stockpot. Put the squash over the leeks; add the wine and stock. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook until the squash is fork tender, about 25 minutes. Let cool 15 min. Add salt and pepper; purée in blender (or food processor). Cover and freeze (or refrigerate up to 3 days).
3. On the day of serving: Defrost butter shapes. Reheat the soup over low to medium heat, stirring frequently (or in a microwave). To serve, ladle the hot soup into shallow bowls and garnish with herb butter and fresh chives.
Yield: 12 cups
Cooking Tips
*You can also use butternut squash for this soup.
**You can make the herb butter up to two weeks ahead. Use the extra herb butter to rub on your turkey.
Recipe Source: Fine Cooking
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