R2R: Squash Soup with Vanilla Crème Fraiche

For November's edition of Recipes to Rival, Meg of Joy Through Cooking was out host and she chose Squash Soup with Vanilla Crème Fraiche. The recipe came from an episode of last season's Top Chef. I am a big fan of Top Chef and was very excited to try and episode from the show. And for it to be the winning recipe of a challenge? Even better.

During one episode, the challenge was set at the Second City Comedy Club where the audience threw out theme words that the chefs found out they were to use as an inspiration for their dish. Each team had a color, a food or flavor, and an emotion. Spike and Andrew won the challenge with a Squash Soup with Vanilla Crème Fraiche based on Yellow, Vanilla, Love. I remember being a little skeptical of this combination when they started making it. Squash? Vanilla? Soup? Ummm...okay.

I guess that shows my limited tastes! This was a delicious winter soup. I used a combination of butternut and acorn squash. When roasted, the squash has a naturally sweet taste and that pairs very well with vanilla topping. Its sweet but it doesn't feel like a dessert.

Mine was a little thicker than I expected, almost a squash puree. Thinned out with a bit more stock and it would have been a perfect consistency. Still it was delicious and a great dinner for a cold winter night.

This makes a whole big pot of yummy soup. Its perfect for feeding a big group of people during the holidays. I made a quarter of the recipe and still ended up with a ton. Most of it was frozen for later.

To get this recipe, you can find it here on BravoTv.com

For more Squash soup, check out the Recipes to Rival Blogroll!