Acorn Squash Caramelized Onion Dip Recipes

SAUSAGE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Bake the squash: Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. With a sharp, sturdy chef's knife, carefully cut the squash in half from stem to base. Scoop out and discard the stringy core and seeds. Arrange the halves cut-sides up on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush each half with 1 teaspoon olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes, until the edges begin to wrinkle and the flesh is fork-tender. Set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
• While the squash bakes, prepare the filling: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage. Brown the meat, breaking it apart into small pieces for 3 minutes.
• Add the mushrooms, onion, apple, salt, pepper, nutmeg, allspice, and minced garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sausage is cooked through, the vegetables and apple are softened, have given up liquid, and the liquid has cooked off, about 8 additional minutes.
• When the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out its flesh, leaving a wall all the way around that is about ¼-inch thick. Add the scooped squash to the pan with the sausage. Add the herbs and ¼ cup Parmesan. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired.
• Mound the filling inside of the hollowed squash halves. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the top. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the filling is nice and hot, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with additional fresh herbs as desired. Serve hot.

ACORN SQUASH & CARAMELIZED ONION DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place the squash, flesh side up, in a baking pan with high sides, pouring about an inch of water in the bottom of the pan. Cover the squash with foil and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until fork tender.
• While the squash is baking, heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add in just enough olive oil to coat the pan, about 1 tablespoon.
• Add the onions to the pan and stir to coat with oil. Let the onions caramelize over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 30-35 minutes, or until the onions are a deep brown. As the pan dries out, add in a splash of stock, white wine or water to deglaze, then stir. The onions should be soft but not mushy when they're done. Add the minced garlic to the pan about 10 minutes before the onions are finished caramelizing.
• Remove the onions from the heat and set aside. Remove the squash from the oven and allow it to cool enough to handle. Scoop out the squash flesh into a food processor or blender.
• Add the onion mixture, honey or maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and spices to the processor and blend until just smooth.
• Serve warm, cold or room temperature as-is or add in yogurt, a drizzle of Sriracha or another hot sauce, and/or cilantro, thyme, paprika and/or cumin for garnish.

CARAMELIZED ONION DIP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over low heat; stir in onion. Cook and stir until onion is soft but not browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Increase heat to high, add butter, and sprinkle sugar over onions. Cook and stir frequently until onion is very tender and dark brown, 8 to 10 minutes more. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Combine sour cream, yogurt, and mayonnaise together in a bowl; season with salt and black pepper. Mince cooled onions on a cutting board; stir onions into sour cream mixture. Store in refrigerator to allow flavors to blend, at least 1 hour.

PAN-FRIED ONION DIP

Steps:

• Cut the onions in half and then slice them into 1/8-inch thick half-rounds. (You will have about 3 cups of onions.) Heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions, cayenne, salt, and pepper and saute for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 more minutes until the onions are browned and caramelized. Allow the onions to cool.
• Place the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until smooth. Add the onions and mix well. Taste for seasonings. Serve at room temperature.

CARAMELIZED ONION DIP

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, until soft and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in the vinegar and simmer until the mixture is dry. Add the hot sauce if using. Remove the mixture from the heat and allow the onions to cool slightly.
• Mix the cream cheese until smooth in a large bowl. Fold in the sour cream and caramelized onions. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with chives if using. Can be eaten warm or transferred to the refrigerator to be eaten cold.