Sweet Dumpling Squash Soup with Crispy Bacon
Is spending over $500 on a blender crazy? Probably. But, is spending $22 on that blender crazy? Not at all! After asking for Williams-Sonoma gift cards for every birthday, Christmas, and special occasion (plus hoarding credit card rewards points like nobody’s business) for the last several years, the Vitamix Professional Series 300 was finally mine – for just $22 out of pocket.
Known as blenders for professional chefs and serious home cooks, I had logged quite a bit of time with Vitamixes while I was in culinary school. Each time I used one, I marveled at how efficient it was, and how it could blend anything. I’m convinced you could throw some granite chunks and blueberries in this thing, and you would be drinking a granite-berry smoothie a moment later. Yum?
Since the moment it arrived (seriously, I blended something within 2 minutes of unboxing it), I’ve been blending up a storm. Mostly green smoothies, but sauces, soups, and margaritas, too.
Sweet Dumpling Squash Soup with Crispy Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 large dumpling squashes (about 5-1/2 pounds total)
- 1/2 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves (in their skins)
- Olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
- 4 fresh sage leaves
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth
- 1/2 cup water, plus additional if needed
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 8 slices hardwood smoked bacon, cooked until crisp, then crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut squashes in half and scoop out seeds. Place squashes on one rimmed baking pan, and onion and garlic on another rimmed baking pan. Drizzle everything with some olive oil, and season well with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven. Roast oven and garlic about 30 minutes or until onion is golden brown; remove garlic from skins. Roast squash 60 minutes or until very tender. Let squash cool 10 minutes.
- Scoop squash flesh into Vitamix. Add sage, broth, water, cumin, paprika, turmeric and roasted onion and garlic. Select Variable 1. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10. Blend until smooth. Add half-and-half; blend until well combined, then salt to taste. If a thinner consistency is desired, add additional water in 1/4 cup increments until you’re satisfied. Blend on Variable 10 for 4 to 5 minutes or until heavy steam escapes from vented lid.
- Serve soup garnished with bacon.
I have a feeling the Squash Soup will be my favorite dish. I am just now starting to eat healthy or trying and would love to start drinking some smoothies and just all around healthier meals. In the past I would say my favorite drink would be Peanut Butter Fudge Shake or a Bushwacker. A habit I will break!
I’m seriously mystified by the way the Vitamix can make soup and make it hot. I need to experience this myself. The fact that it’s American-made? That’s the best of all.
There are too many delicious things that come out of my blender to pick just one favorite (though Dutch Baby pancakes are pretty high up on the list…) And I’m sure they’d all be even tastier if I had a shiny new Vitamix to make them in 😀
lori, i have no shame. i want this, badly… nic and i make a pureed soup at least once a week during the fall and winter, and a vitamix would be money.
just so i don’t feel this is a complete steal, i’ll share what i’d probably make first, which is one of my most favorite cold-weather meals of all time:
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/carrot-ginger-soup-with-coconut-roasted-shrimp
my only adjustments are that i use about half the pb they suggest, and i also make a quick veggie broth that’s heavy on the carrots, mushrooms, and onions in place of chicken broth.
We love super smooth soups, so that’s what we’ll do doing! Our current blender just doesn’t cut it!
All my friends love their Vitamix – I would use it for smoothies for sure!
I don’t even own a blender, but my sister had a Vitamix she was lucky enough to get in a thirft shop and used it every single day until it broke. She made vegetable drinks and smoothies, mostly. I don’t know if she’ll find another in a thrift shop, but I’d give this this her. She could make me some squash soup as a thank you. 🙂
My favorite drink in a blender is a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie.
Big fan of making Squash soups but also roasted califlower soups in a blender!
I make potato soup with my mixer,but I have always wanted a vitamix!!!
I make a really great vegan pumpkin soup– and I’d LOVE to have a better blender!
Smoothies
I had a vitamixer at work but I’ve since relocated and I am missing it! I used it daily for green morning smoothies and homemade nut butters. I’ve been saving up to buy one too- but I couldn’t resist entering a giveaway. Your soup looks beautiful. The addition of dumplings is a great one.
I like to make smoothies
I would make my chocolate and banana smoothies
love green smoothies
strawberry banana yogurt smoothies
tvollowitz at aol dot com
I make a yummy green smoothie in my blender! I also love juicing. My mom had a vitamix when I was growing up (actually, she still does!) and man do I wish I had one!
Can not wait to try some of theses recipes!!
I love to make broccoli cheddar soup!
I am a big fan of smoothies! A vitamix will last a lot longer than my current magic bullet. Don’t judge me 🙂
Squash + bacon. Yes! I am on board.
As for my fave thing to make in a blender. A frozen margarita! Not even a close runner-up.
Bacon and a Vitamix giveaway in the same post!!! It’s just too much! 😉 My favorite thing to make in a blender is a banana oat smoothie I have for breakfast several times a week.
well, my favorite good-for-you food is hummus or smoothies… my favorite all-time is a double-chocolate milk shake.
Favorite thing to make in a blender: Margaritas! Though, the avocado cream sauce I made the other day was a close second.
I’ll be honest and tell you my favorite is a rich, vanilla milkshake.
I make smoothies but with a vitamix I could make soup so much quicker & easier!! The possibilities are endless
I like to make fruit smoothies before going out the door In the morning. A vitamix would sure speed up the process. If I am running late I tend to skip it due to the time it takes to make it.
I love that this has the capability to make food hot, how cool is that! WOW. I love homemade soups and sauces. Your soup looks great, thank you.
I like margaritas!
abfantom at yahoo dot com
I love making protein shakes!
This squash soup sounds absolutely delicious. I’m not a big soup eater, generally, but every so often one will get me hooked.
My favorite thing to make with a blender is smoothies.
I love making real fruit smoothies my favorite is a strawberry banana
I love a good PB and banana milkshake!
Making smoothies in my blender is how I use it most! Would love a better quality one so that I could try more stuff out!
my favorite is lime margaritas~!
I love to make pina colodas if my sister is over we make Margaritas
That vitamix looks awesome. I imagine lots of soups this winter!
I like to make hummus for one thing. Lots of other things too.
I like to make banana and peanut butter smoothies with my blender
Hummus, and all kinds of smoothies!
I make a lot of smoothies and would love to have a Vitamix to make them in.
I love making fruit smoothies for my guest in my blender.
I have a killer margarita recipe!
I have wanted a vitamix blender for so long. I would make some fall soups in it.
My dad has badder and prostate cancer. He makes “smoothies” out of kale and spinach. He goes through a lot of blenders.
My kids use the blender to make milkshakes
I make smoothies with my blender. I’d love to make more stuff with a vitamix though!
My favorite things to make in a blender are soups and smoothies. But milkshakes are pretty high up on the list as well!
My kids love for me to make Ice cream shakes in our blender!
I love mango smoothies :3
I’ve been blending batches of Tomato Bisque made from our heirloom tomato harvest this summer.
Love making smoothies. Current favorite is a pumpkin smoothie.
I like to make smoothies which is all I can pull off on my old blender. I’d love to make soup but the motor would burn out first.
Soups are my favorite for the blender.
Oh squash! i am so looking forward to soups this fall/winter.
I love making a smoothie for my kids with mangoes, bananas, french vanilla organic yogurt, and a splash of orange juice. 🙂 Unfortunately our old blender can’t handle anything remotely hard!
If I had a blender I would make the best milkshakes ever. The cheap blender I have won’t even make a smoothie.
I make a drink with frozen mangoes, blueberries, yogurt, orange juice, chia seeds, flax and old cold cooked oatmeal (don’t laugh it makes it really creamy) that is pretty great.
*****************
{in the contest I am Margot Core on the Rafflecopter}
I love to make berry smoothies
Blueberry Vodka Smoothie is my favorite drink to mix in the blender.
I love autumn soups ~ apple rutabaga is my current favorite sweetened w/maple syrup but spiced w/a touch of cayenne pepper
i like making smoothies in a blender
My son loves smoothies and I love pureed soup. I’ve been wanting a Vitamix for a year or so and I tried to convince my mom to give me hers, but she said no! Fingers crossed for winning this one. Thanks for the opportunity.
green smoothies!
i love to make oreo milkshakes for dessert sometimes, or strawberry banana smoothies in the morning!
I love to make green smoothies.
I like to make protein shakes in my blender.
Susan Chester
I like to finish off my homemade marinara sauce in the blender!
l like the blueberry kale coconut water avocado smoothie from Doctor Oz
I love making green smoothies and dessert creams… the Vitamix would be so perfect!
We like making strawberry banana smoothies in the blender
I love to make loaded baked potato soup!
my favorite meal by far to make in a blender is gazpacho!
I love making mixed berry smoothies.
Tara Woods
My favorite is a chocolate milkshake
We love to make milkshakes in the blender! I like vanilla – the hubby likes peanut butter
I too have no shame I want this to make everything in the receipe box
I make a lot of smoothies
Oh this looks delicious!
Healthy soups!
SMOOTHIES!
I love strawberry banana smoothies.
I would love to make a pineapple and berry smoothie.
I love making mixed berry smoothies and homemade salsa in a blender.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I love to make granola, apple, greek yoghurt smoohies.
My favourite dish to make in a blender is a vegan pumpkin square filling. My next favourite is a good old-fashioned comforting soup like this Squash Soup.
smoothies are our fav – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Banana smoothies.
I haven’t ever had a blender but when I’ve stayed with friends, I’ve made smoothies.
Strawberry banana smoothies
I like making fruity drinks or chocolate and coffee combos.
Homemade coleslaw, and strawberry daiquiris!
We like making chocolate shakes in the blender.
OMG… I just learned about the vitamix earlier this year. My co-worker LOVES hers! I make this awesome carrot soup which is a recipe from my aunt and a yummy pesto that I found on pinterest. I love butternut squash soup but have never made my own so that would be a definite must try. This squash soup looks pretty delicious as well 🙂
I think Strawberry smoothies is my favorite thing to make in a blender. That and milk shakes, coffee, chocolate, strawberry, and orange sherbet ones.
I love love love smoothies and all types of soup!! myamurphy@mail.com
I like to make strawberry smoothies.
I like to make smoothies and milkshakes in a blender. 🙂 Thank you.