Butternut Squash With Spinach Raisins And Pine Nuts Recipes

BAKED BUTTERNUT SQUASH, RAISIN AND PINE NUT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Prepare lasagna noodles as directed on the package.
• To prepare the squash, peel and remove seeds, trimming into 1 or 2 inch cubes. Place in a pot of boiling water and cook until just tender. Remove water and mash by hand. (You can also do this in the microwave if you have one.)
• Place flour in a small saucepan over low to medium heat and very gradually whisk in milk and garlic. Warm milk slurry, stirring constantly, until sauce simmers and is thickened, about 3 minutes. (It will continue to thicken in the baking so don't worry if it seems a bit thin at this stage.) Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.?.
• Spread 1/3 cup of cheese sauce over bottom of a 9 X 13-inch glass or metal pan and cover with 3 lasagna noodles; top with 1/3 of squash and 1/2 cup of cheese sauce. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of raisins. Cover with 3 more lasagna noodles and spread with 1/3 of remaining squash and 2/3 cup of cheese sauce; sprinkle with 1/4 cup of raisins. Cover with 3 more lasagna noodles and top with remaining squash and raisins; cover with last 3 lasagna noodles, pressing sheets firmly down. Top with remaining cheese sauce; sprinkle with pine nuts and remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Cover lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until lasagna bubbles around edges and is browned on top, about 15-20 additional minutes.
• Slice into 8 pieces and serve.

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH GRATIN

Steps:

• If using fresh spinach, bring 1 inch water to a boil in a 6- to 8-quart pot over high heat. Add spinach, a few handfuls at a time, and cook, turning with tongs, until wilted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water. You may skip this step if you like, I don't think it's really necessary.
• Thoroughly squeeze cooked fresh or thawed frozen spinach in small handfuls to remove excess moisture(try to get it absolutely dry), then coarsely chop and transfer to a bowl.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in an 8-inch heavy skillet over medium low heat, then cook onion and garlic, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes(you can cook it till caramalized if you like). Add onion mixture to spinach along with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cream and stir to combine.
• Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F Butter a 3-quart shallow baking dish (13 by 9 inches; not glass-I think you could use glass, just be careful when broiling-that's the reason it's not recommended).
• Cut squash to separate bulb section from solid neck section, then cut pieces lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices with slicer or food processor. To make the squash easier to cut, microwave for 3-5 minutes.
• Layer squash and spinach mixture in baking dish, using about one fifth of squash and one fourth of spinach for each layer, beginning and ending with squash. Sprinkle each layer of squash evenly with cheeses and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then cover directly with a sheet of parchment or wax paper(or use glass lid). Bake until squash is tender and filling is bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes. If you like, you can use individual baking dishes, just note shorter cooking time. I haven't tried baking it individually so cook times are estimated.
• Remove paper and bake gratin until browned in spots, 10 to 15 minutes, or broil 3 inches from heat, 2 to 3 minutes. Enjoy!
• Note:.
• If making individual gratins, bake 20-30 minutes.
• Also, for a shortcut, use 3 packages of creamed spinach(cooked) and skip the cream.
• Some reviewers added a little jalapeno(or chipotle peppers and sliced almonds on top.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH ONIONS, SPINACH, AND CRAISINS®

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Slice butternut squash cross-wise into 1-inch slices; peel and clean each slice, removing and discarding seeds and stringy pulp from the center. Cut cleaned slices into 1-inch cubes.
• Toss squash cubes, onion, and olive oil together in a bowl until coated; transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until squash is tender and starting to brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Toss squash mixture, spinach, dried cranberries, and pecans together in a serving bowl and serve warm.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO WITH SPINACH AND TOASTED PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add about 3 1/2 cups squash in even layer and cook without stirring until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes; stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender and browned, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer squash to bowl and set aside.
• Return skillet to medium heat; add reserved squash fibers and seeds and any leftover diced squash. Cook, stirring frequently to break up fibers, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to large saucepan and add vegetable broth and water; cover saucepan and bring mixture to simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low to maintain bare simmer.
• While broth mixture is simmering, add 1 teaspoon olive oil to now-empty skillet and swirl to coat. Add 4 ounces baby spinach and cook, covered, over medium heat, until leaves begin to wilt, about 2 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring constantly, until fully wilted, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter (or margarine) in now-empty skillet over medium heat; when foaming subsides, add onions, garlic, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add rice to skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until grains are translucent around edges, about 3 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring frequently, until fully absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, strain hot broth through fine-mesh strainer into medium bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Return strained broth to saucepan and discard solids in strainer; cover saucepan and set over low heat to keep broth hot.
• When wine is fully absorbed, add 3 cups hot broth and half of reserved squash to rice. Simmer, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and bottom of pan is almost dry, about 12 minutes.
• Stir in about 1/2 cup hot broth and cook, stirring constantly, until absorbed, about 3 minutes; repeat with additional broth 2 or 3 more times, until rice is al dente. Turn off the heat, stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter/margarine, Parmesan, sage, and nutmeg; drain excess liquid from spinach and gently fold in spinach and remaining cooked squash. If desired, add up to 1/4 cup additional hot broth to loosen texture of risotto. Top individual servings of risotto with toasted pine nuts; serve immediately.