Winter Squash Soup with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

By west757

Chef Susur Lee is renowned for his creative, complex, Asian-inflected dishes at his restaurants in Toronto, Manhattan and Singapore. But one of his favorite cold-weather comfort recipes is this remarkably simple squash soup, which he sweetens with a little honey and garnishes with roasted pumpkin seeds.
Pairing Suggestion Vouvray, with its classic apple aroma, is ideal for this velvety soup.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 celery rib, coarsely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 quart chicken stock or low-sodium broth
• 1 quart water
• 4 pounds kabocha or butternut squash—peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
• Salt and freshly ground white pepper
• Large pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• Salted roasted pumpkin seeds, honey and diced cucumber, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

In a large pot, melt the butter. Add the onion, celery and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the white wine and simmer for 3 minutes. Add the stock and water and bring to a boil. Add the squash, cover partially and simmer over moderately low heat until tender, about 30 minutes.
Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender. Return the soup to the pot, bring to a simmer and season with salt, white pepper and nutmeg. Garnish with the pumpkin seeds, a drizzle of honey and the cucumber.

MAKE AHEAD
The soup can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat before serving.