Fall Soup

Squash are apleanty this time of year and with Halloween over and Thanksgiving approaching I am starting to shift my recipes toward the holiday season so I can plan what to serve for Thanksgiving dinner.

A great recipe from Eating Well In Season combines the taste of Fall squash with the sweetness of pears for a warm and yummy dinner, with plenty of left overs for lunch.

Roasted Pear-Butternut Soup with Crumbled Stilton

2 ripe pears, peeled, quartered and cored
2 lbs. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 2-inch chunks
2 medium tomatoes, cored and quartered
1 large leek, pale green and white parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced, and washed thoroughly
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
freshly ground pepper to taste
4 cups vegetable broth or reduced sodium chicken broth, divided
2/3 cup crumbled Stilton or other blue-veined cheese
1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives or scallion greens

Main Ingredients

Preheat oven to 400F.

Combine pears, squash, tomatoes, leek, garlic, oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss to coat. Spread evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, striffing occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 40-55 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Roasted Veggies

Place half the vegetables and 2 cups broth in a blender or food processor, puree until smooth. Transfer to a large saucepan. Puree the remaining vegetables and 2 cups broth. Add to the pan and stir in the remaining 1/4 tablespoon salt.

Cook the soup over medium-low heat, stirring, until hot, about 10 minutes. Divide among 6 bowls and garnish with cheese and chives.

Roasted Pear-Butternut Soup

I followed this recipe pretty closely, using chicken broth because it was what I had on hand, and Gorgonzola cheese instead of Stilton, because it was more affordable. I didn’t puree to as smooth a texture as I think was suggested, but I enjoyed the chunks of pears and squash every few bites. Warm, sweet, and savory, this was a perfect Fall soup. I highly recommend serving it for an upcoming special occasion, or snuggling up on your own to enjoy it on a chilly autumn evening.