Winter Squash Soup with Citrus-Mint Pesto
["Recipe and photo courtesy of Viviane Bauquet Farre of food & style<\/a><\/em>","Recipe and photo courtesy of Viviane Bauquet Farre of
Ingredients
For soup
- 3 Tbs. California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium Vidalia or Spanish onion – peeled, quartered and cut crosswise in 1/8-inch slices
- 2 garlic cloves – skinned and finely chopped
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 3 lbs winter squash (1 medium butternut squash, kabocha, sugar pumpkin…) – peeled (use vegetable hand-peeler), seeded and cut in 1″ chunks
- 2 -1/2 cups vegetable stock
- 3-3 1/2 cups spring water
- 1-1/4 tsp. sea salt or to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 Tbs. fresh orange juice
- 1 small bunch Italian parsley (1-1/2 oz.) – tough stems removed
- 8 sprigs fresh mint – leaves removed from stems
- 1/4 tsp. fennel seeds – coarsely ground with mortar and pestle
- 1/4 tsp. orange zest (use microplane grater)
- 2 Tbs. pine nuts
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ cup California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Heat large heavy-bottomed pot to medium-high heat. Add California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil and onions and sauté for 5-6 minutes until golden, stirring from time to time. Add garlic and wine. Stir well and continue to sauté for 3-4 minutes, until wine has evaporated and glazed the onions. Add squash chunks, stock, 3 cups of water, salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil and then simmer covered for 30-35 minutes, until squash is very tender.
- Add orange juice and purée soup with a stick blender or food processor, until silky-smooth. Thin soup with water to desired consistency. Adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from heat and set aside.
- While soup is simmering, make pesto. Place all the ingredients in bowl of a food processor and process until very smooth, for 1-2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl once or twice. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
- Ladle soup into soup bowls. Place a spoonful of pesto in the center of each bowl and serve immediately.
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