Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Crab
James Carrier
How to Make It
Step 1
1
In a 5- to 6- quart pan over high heat, stir onions and celery in butter until limp, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and curry powder, and stir 1 minute longer.
Step 2
2
Add squash, apples, broth, 4 cups water, ginger, bay leaf, cloves, and pepper. Stirring often, bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until squash mashes easily, 30 to 40 minutes.
Step 3
3
Remove and discard bay leaf and cloves. In a blender or food processor, whirl squash mixture, a portion at a time, until smooth.
Step 4
4
Pour purée through a fine strainer back into pan. Add sherry and stir over medium heat until just steaming, about 2 minutes.
Step 5
5
Meanwhile, remove any bits of shell from crab.
Step 6
6
Ladle soup into wide bowls. Mound equal portions of crab in the center of each bowl. Garnish with bell pepper, if desired. Add salt to taste.
Ingredients
2 onions (1 lb. total), peeled and chopped
1 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons butter or margerine
1/4 cup tomato paste
3 tablespoons curry powder
2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 Granny Smith apples (1 lb total), peeled and coarsely chopped
6 cups fat-skimmed chicken broth
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 dried bay leaf
2 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup dry sherry
1/2 pound shelled cooked crab
Thinly sliced red bell pepper (optional)
Salt
Directions
Step 1
1
In a 5- to 6- quart pan over high heat, stir onions and celery in butter until limp, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and curry powder, and stir 1 minute longer.
Step 2
2
Add squash, apples, broth, 4 cups water, ginger, bay leaf, cloves, and pepper. Stirring often, bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until squash mashes easily, 30 to 40 minutes.
Step 3
3
Remove and discard bay leaf and cloves. In a blender or food processor, whirl squash mixture, a portion at a time, until smooth.
Step 4
4
Pour purée through a fine strainer back into pan. Add sherry and stir over medium heat until just steaming, about 2 minutes.
Step 5
5
Meanwhile, remove any bits of shell from crab.
Step 6
6
Ladle soup into wide bowls. Mound equal portions of crab in the center of each bowl. Garnish with bell pepper, if desired. Add salt to taste.
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