Truffled Blue Hubbard Squash Soup

Blue Hubbard squash has orange colored sweet flesh. It will feed a family of eight or more, can be tossed around by children without fear of damage, may double as an excersize ball, and few people have heard of it which makes a nice change from the ever-so-common butternut squash soup.

The only downside is – I'm sorry to say – I don't even know where you can buy one of these things (and they are 'things') because our market here in Pescadero is closed until May and I have not seen them in local stores. I should warn that blue Hubbards are heavy and can reach up to 20 pounds. 

If you do find one, the question is how to open it? Now you can either do what farmer Kate does to crack these suckers open and hold them high above your head and throw them down hard on the cement, then pick up the pieces and wash off any road tidbits.

Or you can do what I like to do, which is soooo much more graceful, and place the alien football on the wood chopping block (you have one don't you? A chopping block?) and cleave it into pieces with an axe and then wash off any woodblock splinters that cling on. Very satisfying – a stress reliever. 

Or you can do what Farmer Jeff does and get the chainsaw. No, I'm just kidding there. We don't even have a chain saw. A bush hog, yes. A chainsaw, no.  

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 I did learn a few tips about squash growing this year at Echo Valley Farm from Farm manager Dede. And I'm talking more of the butternut, delicata, potimarron, kuri, hubbard, and sugar pie types. Not zucchini. Let hard squashes cure in the field and then in dry storage. When the vine is dry and the leaves are dead and bleached, this is the time to cut squash off the leash. In most cases this will be after the first frost or thereabouts. If the squash does not get to cure the sugars won't develop all the way.

When it comes to black truffles the blacker the better. For a soup like this where big black shavings aren't necessary I'd opt for the smaller truffles because they are easier to find and a truffle half the size of a golf ball will cost around $48 retail value. I used a little black truffle oil too.

I like to place my truffles with my eggs in the refrigerator. The flavor and heavenly aroma somehow infuses through the eggshells. Then I can have truffled soft scrambled eggs too! 

Always smell truffles before purchasing and buy from a reputable company. Some truffle sellers soak them in truffle smelling chemicals to enhance aroma. If they have a chemical or gasoline smell I would stay away. 

Truffled Blue Hubbard Soup

 One Hubbard of 14 pounds will make 4 quarts of soup

1 Bleu Hubbard around 14-15 pounds cracked open with seeds scooped out

1 quart rich chicken, veal, or vegetable stock

1 head of garlic

3 stalks of celerly, chopped and sweated (cooked but not browned)

5 springs of thyme

1 small bottle of black truffle oil

1 extremely small black truffle

sea salt 

chives, minced & crème fraîche to garnish

Heat oven to 400˚F. In a large roasting pan place hubbard pieces skin side down. Do not add water, they contain a lot and will more than likely fill the pan with 1/4-inch while roasting. Take garlic head and cut off the tips keeping head intact. Place it alongside hubbard in roasting pan with thyme. Cook for around 2 hours or until the hubbard flesh is soft. 

When it is cooked take it out and scoop out the flesh. Purée in batches with the stock, celery, and garlic (squeeze garlic out of skins), and season with salt and pepper to taste. Before serving, mix in one teaspoon of oil per serving (one bowl) and sprinkle a little more on top. Shave truffles and float as a garnish. If there are any extras, they can be chopped and added to the soup.  

Comments

[wattacetti]

That's a honking big squash, Chef. Truffles from Périgord?

[Ms. Glaze]

Oh yesssss!!! Truffles from Périgord!!! We are NOT growing these on the farm, but I'm sure you guessed that.

I'm totally smitten with this squash. They are easy to prepare and the yield makes it worth the trouble. I'm thinking we'll be selling more products this year and this will definitely be on the list. Maybe not in the truffled form, but some sort of Hubbard soup. Super tasty. A little more earthy than butternut squash in flavor, but also a little sweeter. If they weren't so watery, I'd say they'd make excellent pumpkin pack for pies. The water content can be cooked out of course. I'll have to wait until next fall though...

[Farmer Jeff]

Yep, mmmmm good!

[wattacetti]

That would certainly be one of the few vegetable purchases to come with instructions to "bend at the knees". Keep a limited production of truffled soup for the high rollers.

That beautiful orange color and the description makes me think it'd be an excellent ingredient to use and pair in a variety of dishes. I've got duck in mind but perhaps some of that farm-raised pork with crackling, or a squash tasting menu.

Ugh - now I'm drooling.

[Daisy]

I don't think I've ever seen a blue hubbard squash, but they are beautiful! And huge.

I like the idea of "cracking them open by throwing them on cement." Brilliant. I also love taking out your aggression on the chopping block with an axe!

I really love your blog. I have been following for a while, but never commented till now. I do get very excited when I see my subscription email pop up in my inbox! Thanks for letting us into your world!

[Ms. Glaze]

Daisy! I've never seen a whole stadium built out of sandwiches – cool superbowl photos on your blog and yummy recipes! I'm hoping next fall Echo Valley Farm will have more of these to sell. They were sort of an experiment this year. But there are recipes out there for blue hubbards in the blogosphere so it's not totally unheard of. Thanks for dropping by!

[Gillian]

Hello gorgeous - it's been so long that I've stopped by I've missed your delicious recipes. I will never forget that incredible meal you made with us in Paris. I hope we'll cross paths again soon. xo
Gillian

[Ms. Glaze]

Comment ça va Gillian? Tu es ou maintenant? À Paris?!?! Tu me manque beaucoup et j'espère que tous les es bien. Gros bisous xox

[armani sunglasses]

As a fresh, I am always searching online for articles that can help me get further ahead. I have got one.

[Cheap Nike Shoes]

The local lobsters aren't quite available yet, but this will get a go once they are. Will also give time to practice making some pasta. Spring is sprung.