Roasted Hubbard Squash Soup with Hazelnuts and Chives

1 . Stage

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2 . Stage

Combine olive oil, garlic, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, and sage in a mortar; pound with a pestle until consistency is like a coarse paste. Rub spice mixture on the cut-sides of the squash halves. Place squash onto the prepared baking sheet with cut-sides down.

3 . Stage

Roast in the preheated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 1 hour. Remove from oven, turn cut-sides up, and cool until easily handled. Scrape insides of squash into a bowl; you should have about 5 cups.

4 . Stage

Melt butter in a 5-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leek, carrots, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leek is softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add reserved squash, chicken broth, 1 teaspoon salt, and bay leaf. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until soup's flavor has developed, about 30 minutes.

5 . Stage

Remove and discard bay leaf. Fill blender halfway with soup. Cover and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Pour into a pot. Repeat with remaining soup. Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with hazelnuts, chives, and Espelette pepper.