SMOKED SAUSAGE, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, AND WILD RICE SOUP

SMOKED SAUSAGE, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, AND WILD RICE SOUP image

Number Of Ingredients 11

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1 medium (1 1/2 - 2 pounds) butternut squash, cut in half, seeds and membranes removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
12 cups chicken broth or stock
2 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
1 cup wild rice
3/4 pound kielbasa, or other smoked sausage, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch pieces
2 cups fresh corn kernels or thawed frozen corn
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons minched fresh flat-leaf parsely
1 1/2 cup half-and-half

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rub squash halves with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place on baking sheet flesh down and roast until tender (20-25 minutes). Remove and cool. With a spoon, scoop flesh from squash and place in a food processor or blender with 2 cups of chicken stock and puree on high until smooth. Add 4 cups stock and 1/2 cup of chopped onions to a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add rice and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, 45 minutes to an hour. Remove from heat, uncover, and cool. Heat remaining tablespoon of oil in a clean sauecepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until just brown, about 4 minutes. Add remaining 2 cups of onions, corn, salt, and pepper, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining 6 cups stock and squash puree and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and skimming off any fat that forms on the surface. Add rice and stir well. Cook for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Stir in half-and-half and parsley.