GOLDEN SQUASH BLOSSOM CREMA: CREMA DE FLORES DE CALABAZA

Golden Squash Blossom Crema: Crema de Flores de Calabaza image

Provided by Food Network

Time 1h40m

Yield about 7 cups, enough for 6 generous servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 large white onion, chopped into 1/4-inch dice
3 cups good chicken broth
1 small boiling potato (like the red-skin ones), peeled and roughly chopped
25 large (3 to 4-inch) squash blossoms (these are the male blossoms with no squash attached)
2 fresh poblano chiles
1 cup milk
1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 large ear of corn, husked, kernels cut from the cob
1/2 cup queso fresca, creme fraiche, or sour cream loosened with some milk or cream
Salt, about 1 1/2 teaspoons, depending on the saltiness of the broth
A little chopped epazote or parsley, for garnish

Steps:

The broth: In a 4-quart soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly brown, about 5 minutes. Scoop out half of the onion and set aside. Add the broth and potato, partially cover, and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
The blossoms: While the broth is simmering, clean the squash blossoms: break off the stems, then the little green sepals that come out from the base of the blossoms (they originally covered the buds). Use your fingers to break loose the long pistils in the center of each flower and discard. With a very sharp knife, cut the blossoms cross-wise into 1/4-inch strips, including the bulbous base.
Add half the blossoms to the broth and simmer 3 minutes. In a food processor or in batches in a loosely covered blender (or using an immersion blender), puree the mixture; return to the pot.
The chiles: Roast the chiles directly over the gas flame, on a medium-hot gas grill, or 4 inches below a very hot broiler. Turn occasionally, until blistered and blackened on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes for the flame or grill, about 10 minutes for the broiler. Cover with a kitchen towel and let stand about 5 minutes. Peel off the charred skin, cut out the seed pod, then quickly rinse to remove straggling bits of skin and seeds. Cut into 1/4-inch dice.
Finishing the soup: Add the chiles to the soup along with the milk and reserved onion; bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Add the zucchini and corn, simmer a couple of minutes, then add the remaining squash blossoms. Simmer a couple of minutes longer (the strips of blossom will soften into deep-golden "streamers"), remove from the heat, stir in the cream, taste, and season with salt. Serve in warm bowls garnished with the chopped epazote or parsley.