Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup bacon ( 3 slices)
• 8 servings pepper black freshly ground
• 0.3 cup sherry dry (fino)
• 1.5 teaspoons thyme sprigs fresh finely chopped
• 0.3 cup cup heavy whipping cream 
• 8 servings kosher salt 
• 2 cups chicken broth low-sodium
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 0.5 cup shallots ( 2 medium)
• 4 pound pumpkin seeds removed cut in half and
• 2 cups water 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• sauce pan
• oven
• blender
• kitchen towels
• slotted spoon
• dutch oven

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Rub the cut halves of the pumpkin with the oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
2. Place on a baking sheet cut-side up and roast until fragrant, tender when pierced with a fork, and golden brown, about 70 minutes.
3. Remove from the oven and let sit on the baking sheet until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes.Using a large spoon, scoop out the flesh, place it in a medium bowl (you should have about 3 cups), and set it aside.
4. Place the bacon in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat and cook until crispy and the fat is rendered, about 10 minutes.
5. Remove with a slotted spoon to a small paper-towel-lined plate and set aside.
6. Add the shallots to the bacon fat, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes.
7. Add the sherry and cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
8. Add the stock or broth, water, thyme, and reserved pumpkin and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the flavors have melded, about 10 minutes.Using a blender, purée the soup in batches until smooth, removing the small cap from the blender lid (the pour lid) and covering the space with a kitchen towel (this allows steam from the hot soup to escape and prevents the blender lid from popping off).
9. Place the blended soup in a clean saucepan. Stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper as needed.
10. Serve garnished with the reserved bacon and the croutons, if using.