Buttercup Squash & Leek Soup with Herb Butter
by Michael Brisson

I love the earthy flavor of buttercup squash, but you can substitute butternut. Note: Reserve the extra herb butter separately for the turkey. Yields 12 cups.

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Buttercup Squash & Leek Soup with Herb Butter
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I love the earthy flavor of buttercup squash, but you can substitute butternut. Note: Reserve the extra herb butter separately for the turkey.Yields 12 cups.
ingredients
For the herb butter:
1 shallot, finely chopped (about 2 Tbs.)
1/2 cup dry sherry
1/2 lb. (16 Tbs.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 Tbs. chopped fresh chives
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper (more can be added to taste)
For the soup:
4 cups chopped, well-washed leeks, white part only (about 3 large)
8 cups peeled, seeded, and diced (1-inch cubes) buttercup squash (about 3 medium)
1/2 cup dry white wine
6 cups homemade or low-salt chicken broth
2-1/2 Tbs. kosher salt
1 tsp. to 1 Tbs. white pepper (start with the lesser amount as peppers vary in intensity)
Chopped fresh chives for garnish
how to make
Up to two weeks ahead:

Make the herb butter -- Heat a small nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. When hot, add the shallots and heat to release their aroma and lightly toast them, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and add the sherry. Set the pan back on the heat and reduce the liquid to 2 Tbs., about 8 minutes. Let cool. In a small mixing bowl, blend the butter, chives, sherry-shallot mixture, salt, and pepper. Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper and spread the butter 1/4 inch thick to cover about 8x6 inches. Cover and chill. With a small cookie cutter (I use a star) or a knife, cut out 12 small shapes. Wrap in plastic and freeze; freeze the remainder separately for the turkey.

Make the soup -- Put the leeks in a heavy-based nonaluminum, 8-qt. stockpot. Put the squash over the leeks; add the wine and broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook until the squash is fork-tender, about 25 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes. Add the salt and pepper; purée in a blender (or food processor). Cover and freeze (or refrigerate up to 3 days).
On the day of serving:

Defrost the butter shapes. Reheat the soup over low to medium heat, stirring frequently (or in a microwave). To serve, ladle the hot soup into shallow bowls and garnish with herb butter and fresh chives.

From Fine Cooking 29, pp. 34
photo: Ben Fink