Ingredients

The following ingredients have 5 Servings
  • 1 yellow or white onion, (chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 to 1/2 pound bacon or salt pork, diced ((use less if it's really smoky))
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne ((or more to taste))
  • 1 quart turkey, (chicken or vegetable stock)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 large butternut squash, (peeled, seeded and cut into chunks)
  • Salt
  • 2 heaping tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream ((optional))
  • Smoked paprika ((optional))

Instruction

  • In a large pot, heat the butter over medium-high heat and add the onions and bacon. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent. You don't want them browning. Pour in the stock, add the cayenne, squash, bay leaves and a healthy pinch of salt. You might need a little water to completely submerge the squash. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low, cover and simmer gently for an hour. Stir it once or twice in that time.
  • Uncover the pot, remove the bay leaves and puree the soup, either with an immersion blender, by moving the soup to a blender or a food processor, or by pushing it through a food mill. An immersion blender will give you a slightly chunky soup, a blender the smoothest. Return the soup to the pot, put the bay leaves back in and simmer gently, uncovered, for another 15 minutes. Stir frequently to keep it from sticking on the bottom.
  • Add salt to taste. Right before you serve, whisk in the sour cream or creme fraiche. Adjust the thickness of the soup - you want it to look like melted ice cream. Serve garnished with pumpkin or squash seeds and smoked paprika.