Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Brunoise Gruyere and Buttery Croutons

Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Brunoise Gruyere and Buttery Croutons:

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into 12 tablespoons
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 2 pounds fresh pumpkin, peeled, seeded, & coarsely chopped
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups half and half
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground cracked black pepper
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and clarified
• 2 slices dense white sandwich bread with crusts removed, cut into ¼ inch cubes
• 1/3 pound gruyere cheese, cut into ¼ inch cubes (brunoise)
• 1 bunch chives, finely chopped
• 1 sprig rosemary leaves, minced

In a small, heavy bottomed soup pot or casserole, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and slightly translucent but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the pumpkin, stock and half and half and stir to combine. Season generously with salt and pepper, reduce heat to medium low and cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, then transfer the mixture to the bowl of a food processor. Puree for 10 seconds, until very smooth. Pour through a fine strainer into a clean pot. Add 6 tablespoons of butter and stir to combine.

In a small skillet, warm 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat until gently bubbling. Add the bread cubes, stir to coat with the butter and sauté until golden brown. Transfer croutons to a small plate lined with a paper towel.

Raise the heat under the soup to medium high and heat until very hot for several minutes but not boiling, stirring frequently with a whisk to blend the butter and to keep the soup from burning on the bottom. Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle with diced gruyere, croutons, chives and rosemary.

*Can replace fresh pumpkin with one 16 ounce can of pumpkin puree and reduce the cooking time from 30 to 15 minutes.

• Yield: 4 servings
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes (unless using canned pumpkin puree, then cook time is 20 minutes)
• Ease of Preparation: Intermediate
• Type: Appetizer or Main Dish

Find this recipe at:

http://inet-recipes.blogspot.com/