Gingered Acorn Squash Recipes

GINGERED ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the acorn squash in half, crosswise.
• Scoop out seeds and discard.
• Place cut side down in 9 x13 baking pans (you will need two) and add about one inch of water.
• Bake for an hour.
• Remove from pans and set aside to cool.
• If the squash are rather small, it might take as many as five squash to make the required six pounds.
• Simply quarter some of the smaller squash to fit the baking pans.
• Warm the oil and crushed pepper in a five-quart saucepan, over medium-high heat for one minute.
• Add the garlic, onion, and ginger.
• Cook for three minutes, add potatoes and cook mixture, stirring frequently for five minutes or until the potatoes soften.
• Add boiling broth and reduce heat to medium low.
• Scoop cooked squash (about eight cups) into a large bowl and mash lightly before adding to the pot.
• Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove soup to food processor in batches, adding some soymilk to each batch.
• Return the purée to the soup pot.
• Place miso in a small bowl, add the sherry, and blend with a fork or small whisk.
• Add to the soup with the garlic, ginger, and nutmeg.
• Simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Do not boil.
• (Soup may be thinned with additional broth.) Sprinkle with a light dusting of nutmeg.
• Enjoy!
• Yield: 8 servings.

GINGERED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Arrange squash halves cut side up in a shallow baking dish. Place one tablespoon of orange juice into each cavity. Sprinkle each one with ginger and nutmeg. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 60 to 90 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the squash is tender. Baking time will depend on the size of the squash. Remove from the oven, discard aluminum foil, and let the squash rest for 5 minutes before serving to let the juices settle.

ACORN SQUASH VELOUTé WITH GINGER AND MUSTARD SEEDS

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until light golden, about 8 minutes. Add squash and ginger; sauté 5 minutes. Add 4 1/2 cups broth. Simmer until squash is very tender, about 35 minutes.
• Working in batches, purée soup in blender. Return to same pot. Add tomato purée and cayenne. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors; add more broth if soup is too thick. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm soup over medium heat before serving.)
• Heat 1 teaspoon oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add cumin and mustard seeds and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with seed mixture and serve.

GINGERED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Arrange squash halves cut side up in a shallow baking dish. Place one tablespoon of orange juice into each cavity.
• Sprinkle each one with ginger and nutmeg. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 60 to 90 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the squash is tender. Baking time will depend on the size of the squash.
• Remove from the oven, discard aluminum foil, and let the squash rest for 5 minutes before serving to let the juices settle.

GINGERY QUINOA-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place the squash halves, cut-side up into a small baking dish, and bake until tender, about 45 minutes.
• Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. When done, stir in the butter until melted, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, green pepper, and celery; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in the apple, and continue cooking until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes more. Add the garlic and ginger, cook 2 minutes more, then stir in the vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and red pepper flakes; season to taste with salt and pepper.
• When the squash is tender, scoop out some of the flesh, leaving the halves 1/2 inch thick. Roughly chop the acorn squash, and combine with the quinoa and apple mixture. Spoon the mixture back into the squash shells, and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven, and bake until the cheese has melted and is bubbly, about 5 minutes.

APRICOT-GINGER ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cut squash lengthwise in half; remove seeds. Cut a thin slice from bottoms to level if desired. Place in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish, cut side up., Mix remaining ingredients; spoon over squash. Bake, covered, 45 minutes. Uncover; bake until tender, 15-20 minutes.

HONEY SPICED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the honey, butter, salt, cinnamon and ginger. Cut squash in half; discard the seeds. Fill squash halves with butter mixture. , Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Cover and bake at 375° for 1 hour or until squash is tender. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until filling is bubbly.,