The Big Farewell Blowout Dinner (Part 2): The Soup

I don't know if I've had a better butternut squash soup than this. It's so good, in fact, that I wish I could take credit for the recipe, but I can't. The brown butter adds such a depth to the whole thing...and the sage and creme fraiche just round it out so nicely. I found out after the fact that butternut squash soup ranks amongst Travis's favorite things to eat. I hope he was as happy with this as I was.

Sorry about the 'action shot' photo but we were pretty hungry and I rushed the photo!

SOUP: BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH BROWN BUTTER, SAGE AND NUTMEG CREME FRAICHE

1x3 pound butternut squash
2 tablespoons canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 sage sprigs
1 cup leeks,thinly sliced (1/8 inch thick) white and light green parts only
½ cup carrots, thinly sliced (1/8 inch thick)
½ cup shallots, thinly sliced (1/8 inch thick)
½ cup onions, thinly sliced (1/8 inch thick)
6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
2 tablespoons honey
6 cups Vegetable Stock (page 320), plus extra if necessary
Bouquet Garni (page 325)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup creme fraiche
Freshly grated nutmeg
Canola oil (if using sage leaves)
12 sage leaves or 1 tablespoon minced chives
Kosher sail and freshly ground black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil

FOR THE SOUP
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Cut the neck off the squash and set it aside. Cut the bulb in half and scoop out and discard the seeds. Brush each half inside and out with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the canola oil. Sprinkle the cavities with salt and pepper and tuck a sprig of sage into each. Place cut side down on the baking sheet and roast for about 1 hour, or until completely tender.

Remove the squash from the oven and set aside until cool enough to handle, then scoop out and reserve the flesh (discard the sage).

Meanwhile, using a paring knife or sharp vegetahle peeler, peel away the skin from the neck of the squash until you reach the bright orange flesh. Cut the flesh into 1/2~inch pieces (these will be pureed, so don't be concerned if the pieces are irregularly shaped). (You should have approximately 4 cups diced squash.)

Put the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil in a stock pot over medium-high heat, add the leeks, carrots. shallots, and onions, and cook, stirring often, for about 6 minutes. Add the diced squash, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook gently for 3 minutes, reducing the heat as necessary to keep the garlic and squash from coloring. Stir in the honey and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the stock and bouquet garni, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender.

Add the roasted squash and simmer gently for about 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. Remove from the heat and discard the bouquet garni.

Transfer the soup to a blender, in batches, and puree. Strain the soup through a fine strainer into a bowl or other container, tapping the side of the strainer so the soup passes through. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning. Let the soup cool, then refrigerate until ready to serve.

TO COMPLETE:
Place the creme fraiche in a chilled small metal bowl and stir in nutmeg to taste. Whisk with a small whisk until the creme fraiche holds a shape. Cover and refrigerate.

Reheat the soup. If it is too thick, add a little more vegetable stock.

Heat a medium skillet over high heat. When it is very hot, add the butter and rotate the skillet over the heat as necessary to brown the butter evenly, scraping up any bits that settle in the bottom. As soon as the foaming has subsided and the butter is a hazelnut brown, pour it into the pot of soup. (Be careful not to leave the butter over the heat too long, as it can change from rich brown to black in seconds.)

Meanwhile, if using the sage leaves, heat 1/8 inch of canola oil in a small skillet. When the oil is very hot, add the sage and cook for 30 to 45 seconds, turning the leaves to crisp them on both sides. When the bubbling stops, the moisture in the leaves will have evaporated and the leaves will be crisp. Drain the sage on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.

Ladle the soup into four serving bowls. Top each with a dollop of creme fraiche. Grind some black pepper over the top and garnish each with 2 sage leaves or some minced chives. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top.