Roasted Butternut Squash Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Roasted Winter Squash:
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups raw winter squash (butternut, hubbard, acorn)
Salt and pepper
Soup:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion (1/4-inch)
1/4 cup diced celery (1/4-inch)
1/4 cup diced carrot (1/4-inch)
1 cinnamon stick
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 (32 ounce) carton Progresso(R) chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon ground toasted coriander (optional)
Roasted Winter Squash (above)
1/2 cup half-and-half, if desired* (optional)
2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup Progresso(R) plain Panko crispy bread crumbs, toasted light brown in saute pan over medium heat

Preparation

To make roasted winter squash: Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat butter over medium-high heat in an ovenproof saute pan; add diced squash, salt and pepper. When squash begins to brown, place pan in oven. Roast for 15 minutes or until medium-brown on all sides. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Puree in food processor, or mash with potato masher or ricer. Measure 1 1/2 cups squash; reserve.
To make soup: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the onion, celery, carrot and cinnamon stick; saute until soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the broth and the coriander; bring to a boil. Simmer for several minutes. Stir in reserved squash until smooth; simmer gently to let the flavors meld, about 10 minutes. Discard the cinnamon stick.
Puree the soup using an immersion blender or in a blender until smooth. (The soup can be made ahead to this point, cooled, covered, and refrigerated for several days or frozen for about 1 month. It will thicken as it cools and may need thinning with broth or water when reheating.)
Return the soup to the pan and reheat gently. Add the half-and-half. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Top each serving with pumpkin seeds and toasted bread crumbs.