Cheesy Phyllo Cups With Butternut Squash Recipes

FIVE-SPICE BUTTERNUT SQUASH IN CHEESY CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/240 degrees Celsius (nonfan).
• Cut the butternut squash crosswise into 3/4-inch/1 1/2- to 2-centimeter-thick half moons. Transfer to a wide, large cast-iron skillet, skin side up, keeping the slices together in the shape of the butternut squash half. You might have to angle the pieces slightly so that they all fit. Place the shallots on either side of the squash.
• In a small bowl, combine oil, five-spice powder, cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Pour this all over the vegetables in the skillet, and use your hands to coat everything nicely, rearranging the squash pieces if necessary.
• Bake squash for 25 minutes, or until the squash is soft but not falling apart. Spoon out half the cooked shallots from the pan and set them aside, keeping them intact. Set squash aside to cool for 15 minutes, and turn the oven temperature down to 325 degrees Fahrenheit/170 degrees Celsius (nonfan).
• As the squash cools, prepare the custard: Add the stock and cream to a medium saucepan, and heat through on medium until steaming. In a separate large heatproof bowl, whisk together half the cheese, the yolks, garlic, cornstarch (cornflour), miso, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Slowly pour the scalding cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly, until incorporated and smooth.
• When ready, pour the warm custard into the butternut squash skillet, letting it pool all around the squash (avoid pouring it directly onto the squash). Sprinkle the remaining half of the cheese all over the custard, avoiding the top of the squash. Lastly, gently place the reserved shallots, cut-side up, on top of the custard and cheese. Carefully transfer to the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the custard is set with a very slight wobble.
• As custard cooks, prepare the topping: Add the sesame seeds to a small frying pan set over medium-high heat. Toast for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until lightly browned. Add the Aleppo pepper, paprika, five-spice powder and a tiny pinch of salt, and turn the heat down to medium-low. Add the oil and leave to cook gently for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes before stirring in the chives and lime juice.
• When ready to serve, spoon the sesame topping all over the custard and serve warm.

PHYLLO TRIANGLES WITH SQUASH AND MINT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Toss squash with 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, or until the squash is tender and easily pierced with a knife. Allow squash to cool slightly, then mash with a fork or in a food processor.
• Lower oven to 350 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet and add scallions. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add to squash and stir together.
• Beat egg in a medium bowl. Add the squash, cheese, mint and salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Melt butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil in a microwave at 50 percent power, or in a small saucepan.
• Take 1 sheet of phyllo dough at a time and lay it horizontally on your work surface. Cut 2 1/2-inch-wide strips. (You should be able to cut about 6 strips per sheet.) Cover the strips you aren't working with, and the rest of the phyllo, with a damp towel. Brush a strip with the butter-olive oil mixture.
• Place a teaspoonful of filling on the strip, about an inch down from the end. Lift a corner of the pastry and fold over filling diagonally until shorter edge of the strip meets the longer edge. Fold triangle of covered filling down toward you, and continue folding over and down at right angles, until you reach the end of the strip. If the phyllo cracks, or if you simply want a thicker wrapper, double wrap the triangle in a second strip.
• Brush with more melted butter and olive oil to seal the end, and place on baking sheet. Continue making filled triangles in this way.
• Before baking, brush triangles with oil and butter. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Serve hot.