When I learned how to make a squash soup recipe I realized that various types of squash can usually be interchanged in any recipe depending on your taste buds. Squash are broken down into two families; the summer varieties and the winter varieties. The summer ones have thinner skins and do not hold up as well as the winter ones. The winter type has a very thick skin which helps them to last longer. This makes them available to us for cooking most of the year.
The best way to cook winter squash like pumpkins, with their thick skins is to cut in half, scoop out the seeds and roast them in the oven until tender. At this point the inside meat can easily be scooped out with a large spoon. I cook them this way for the freezer; after cooking I scoop the meat of the squash into a plastic freezer bag and place in the freezer. When I learned how to make a squash soup recipe, I found this to work well in my creamed soup.
The summer squash with their thin skins are great for fast cooking dishes or salads. These squash like zucchini, yellow squash and others have a mild flavor which blends well in most salad, stir fries or other combinations such as soup recipes. Below are some of the common types of squash which you will see in many soup recipes.
In a saucepan combine squash, carrots, onion, celery, salt and broth; cook until vegetables are tender about 15 minutes.
In another sauce pan melt butter; stir in flour until smooth.
Stir in milk and cheese; add cooked vegetables to milk mixture stirring constantly (It will thicken)
NOTE: I spoon out the vegetables first saving the liquid; add enough of the liquid to the chowder to get your desired thickness.
Heat chowder until very hot; DO NOT BOIL.
Learn how to make a squash soup recipe with butternut squash.
Brown bacon in a heavy pot with oil. Remove bacon from the pan, crumble and set aside. Cook onion, garlic and celery until tender. Add squash and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash is tender. (can add water if necessary if too dry).
Puree mixture in a food processor or blender until smooth. Return
mixture to pan. Stir in the heavy cream. Stir until soup is hot. Ladle
into bowls and garnish with crumbled bacon.
In a large saucepan cook squash, celery, carrots and onion in salted water for 10 minutes (Do not drain).
Add corn to vegetables and set aside.
Melt butter in skillet; stir in flour until smooth; stir into vegetable mixture.
Heat until very hot but DO NOT BOIL. Serves 6 to 8
To cook zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and remove seeds; do not peel. Cut in chunks, cover with water and cook until soft; set aside.
Melt butter in saucepan over medium low heat, and then stir in the flour, the milk and the water.
Add the onion, parsley, seasoned salt and bouillon; cook and stir until thickened.
Put zucchini in blender and puree and add to white sauce; add salt and pepper if desired.
Because of the popularity of pumpkins people forget that this is also a squash. Pumpkin is probably the most popular squash soup recipe.
Sauté onion in butter over medium heat until tender.
Add chicken broth and pumpkin and blend; stir in the milk.
Add the nutmeg, ginger and pepper; blend well and heat thoroughly but do not boil.
Sprinkle chopped chives on each serving.
The nutmeg makes this squash soup recipe a favorite.
Peel and seed calabaza with sharp knife; cut into chunks and boil until tender and drain.
Sauté onion and tomato in another pan in hot olive oil until soft.
Process calabaza and onion mixture in food processor until pureed.
After processing pour all into a large saucepan; add light cream and stir to blend well.
Add sugar, salt, pepper and mix well; cook and stir until hot.
Pour small amount of hot mixture into beaten yolks while stirring briskly.
Quickly stir yolk mixture back into pot of hot mixture.
Ladle into hot bowls; top with dollop sour cream sprinkled with nutmeg.
In a large saucepan cook squash, celery, carrots and onion in salted water for 10 minutes (Do not drain).
Add corn to vegetables and set aside.
Melt butter in skillet; stir in flour until smooth; stir into vegetable mixture.
Heat until very hot but DO NOT BOIL. Serves 6 to 8