Butternut Squash Soup

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Lightly grease a large baking sheet or baking dish and place the squash cut side down. Pierce each squash half several times with a fork or skewer and bake, covered with foil, until tender, about 45 minutes – 1 hour. Allow the squash to cool slightly before handling. Using a large spoon, scrape out the cooked squash meat, discarding the peel. In a large heavy stockpot, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the onions, bay leaves and sugar, and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft and lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Add the minced ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the butternut squash puree, chicken stock, salt and white pepper, and stir to mix. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the soup is thickened and slightly reduced, about 30 – 45 minutes. With a handheld immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor, puree the soup on high speed. Stir in the cream and continue to cook over medium low heat for an additional 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and adjust the seasoning to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls, garnishing each with a dollop of chutney and serve. Yield : 6 servings