Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Recipe from Sur la Table

1 (3-pound) butternut squash
3 tbsp plus 1 tsp olive oil
1½ tsp salt
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 large Fuji or golden delicious apple, cored, peeled, and chopped
½ cup finely chopped yellow onion
5 cups chicken stock or top-quality chicken broth
1 cup canned pumpkin purée (unseasoned)
2 tbsp finely grated orange zest
½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp light or dark brown sugar
½ tsp freshly ground or grated nutmeg
¼ tsp ground mace
1 cup whole milk or half-and-half
½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
Coarse sea salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Cut the squash in half, then cut each half in quarters. Scoop out and discard the seeds and pulp. Rub the squash pieces with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and set on a roasting pan, cut side up. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of the salt. Roast, turning the pieces several times, for about 1 hour, until the squash is easily pierced with a fork. Allow the squash to cool, then scoop the tender flesh from the skins. Set aside.

Heat the butter with 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the apple and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until partly tender but not browned. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes longer, until the onion is tender.

Stir in 2 cups of the chicken stock and simmer until the apple is fully tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin, orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar, nutmeg, mace and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Add the remaining 3 cups stock and simmer for 15 minutes.

Dice enough of the roasted squash to make 1½ cups and set aside. Coarsely chop the remaining squash and add to the soup. Cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Add the milk and simmer 5 minutes longer. Allow to cool slightly. Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor until very smooth, returning the soup to the pot. Gently reheat the soup over medium-low heat.

Just before serving, heat the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and toast, stirring often, for 1 to 2 minutes, until crisp and lightly browned (be careful, the seeds may pop out of the pan). Spoon the seeds onto a small plate to avoid burning.

Heat the reserved diced squash in a microwave for 30 seconds or warm in a small saucepan with 1 cup of the soup over medium-low heat. Spoon the diced squash into warmed soup bowls and ladle the hot soup over. Top each bowl with toasted pumpkin seeds and a few grains of sea salt.