Roasted Squash Soup with Maple-Glazed Bananas

Cover recipe- Food & Wine,
Roasted Squash Soup with Maple-Glazed Bananas: Feb. 2009
You can always count on Food & Wine to share some unique recipes, and this recipe for Roasted Squash Soup with Maple-Glazed Bananas is definitely not an exception. I’ve tried plenty good recipes for this fall-themed soup over the years, but this recipe sounded rather interesting to me. Bananas added to the soup? I’m all for being adventurous, so I gave it a shot. Added crème fraîche and cinnamon are mixed into a roasted butternut squash and thinned out with water, resulting in a very thick and creamy, sweet-tasting soup. The bananas are tossed in maple syrup and pecans and act as a garnish for the soup along with a pinch of greens.
Read my notes below to see what I thought of this recipe…
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Maple- Glazed Bananas
Yield: Serves 8
Prep Time: 35 min
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 min
Ingredients:
One 2-pound butternut squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
Kosher salt
1/2 cup pecans
1 banana, scooped into balls with a melon baller or sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 cup water
1/2 cup crème fraîche
Pinch of ground cinnamon
8 small watercress sprigsDirections:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Butter a medium baking dish. Season the squash with salt and set it cut side down in the baking dish. Bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, until the squash is very tender. Let cool slightly.
2. Meanwhile, spread the pecans in a pie plate and toast for about 7 minutes, or until fragrant. Let cool, then coarsely chop and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the banana and maple syrup and stir to coat.
3. Peel the squash. In a blender, puree the squash, water, crème fraîche and cinna- mon until very smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan and warm over low heat. Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with the banana-nut topping and watercress and serve hot or at room temperature.Tips:
*This soup is much too thick as written, add a bit of water or chicken stock to the recipe to thin it out.
*I used micro-greens in place of watercress sprigs.
*The recipe says it serves 8, but I'd say it comfortably gives 4 dinner guests a nice cup of soup.
Source: Food & Wine: Feb 2009
The results:
It was just what I was hoping it would be… a unique twist on butternut squash soup. The sweet flavor of the roasted squash worked well with the sweet banana, and the pecans added an unexpected crunch to the soup. Food & Wine recommends a wine pairing of an off-dry Riesling, such as the vibrant, peachy 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek (and I agree). If you like a butternut squash soup that is on the sweeter side, this one is for you. There’s a definite sweet quality to this soup but not overpoweringly so.
Did this recipe deserve the cover spotlight?
Yes, for its uniqueness and vibrant autumn color.
Tieghan — July 22, 2013 @ 7:32 am
These look delicious!! Honey and tomatoes are such an amazing combo!
Nessa — July 24, 2013 @ 4:16 pm
Oh my! These look and sound incredible :)