Butternut Bisque Recipe (Cream Soup)

Bisque is a smooth, creamy, highly-seasoned soup of French origin, classically based on a strained broth (coulis) of crustaceans.[1] It can be made from lobster, crab, shrimp or crayfish. Also, creamy soups made from roasted and puréed vegetables are sometimes called bisques (though this is, by definition, incorrect, as this would make them cream soups).

Prep: 70 min. Cook: 25 min.

Yield: 10 Servings
Ingredients
3-1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
1 cup sliced carrots
1 medium tart apple, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup chopped shallots
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
4 cups chicken broth
1-1/4 cups half-and-half cream
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 tablespoons minced chives
Sour cream and additional chives, optional
Directions
In a large bowl, toss the squash, carrots, apple, shallots and oil. Transfer to a large roasting pan.
Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 1 hour or until browned and tender, stirring twice. Cool slightly. Place in a food processor; cover and process until almost smooth.
In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, cook tomatoes over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the pureed vegetables, broth, cream, salt and cayenne; heat through (do not boil). Stir in corn and chives. Garnish servings with sour cream and chives if desired. Yield: 10 servings.

Nutritional Facts1 serving (1 cup) equals 170 calories, 6 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 15 mg cholesterol, 757 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrate, 6 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Originally published as Butternut Bisque in Test Kitchen Favorites 2004 , p76