Kabocha Squash Mascarpone Cheesecake Recipes

KABOCHA SQUASH PIE WITH SPICED CRUST

Steps:

• For the squash: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Put the squash on a sheet tray, toss lightly with olive oil and toss in the oven. Roast the squash until a fork slides in and out easily, about 45 minutes. Remove the squash from the oven and let cool. Remove the skin and puree until smooth. Place 3 cups squash puree in a large mixing bowl, reserve the rest for another purpose.
• For the crust: In the bowl of a food processor combine all the flour, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Toss in the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like grated parmigiano. Add in the egg yolk and a few drops of the ice water. Pulse until the mixture starts to come together into a ball. Add a few more drops of water if the mixture still seems dry.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work board. Using the heels of your hand, schmear the dough straight forward and roll it back with your fingertips. Repeat this process two more times. Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Remove the dough from the fridge and let warm up for 5 minutes. Roll the dough out into a large circle and lay in a deep pie dish. Trim the dough all the way around so there is only 1/2-inch overhang. Fold the dough under and crimp the edges decoratively. Make sure the edges don't extend beyond the pie plate rim. Prick the dough all over with a fork. Lay aluminum foil over the dough to cover and fill the pie plate with baking beans.
• Place the pie plate on a sheet tray and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and baking beans and bake for 5 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
• Reduce the heat in the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the filling: In a small bowl, beat the eggs until they are smooth. Beat in the cream. Add the cream/egg mixture to the squash puree and beat to combine. Beat in the condensed milk, brown sugar, bourbon if using and vanilla. Beat until the mixture is well combined, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour the squash mixture into the prepared pie shell. Place on the sheet tray and place back into the oven for 25 minutes. Rotate the pie and bake until the mixture barely jiggles when shaken, another 20 to 25 minutes. If the crust starts to get too dark, place a pie shield ring on the pie to protect the edges from burning.
• Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool for at least 1 hour before cutting.
• Whip heavy cream with a pinch of cinnamon until stiff peaks, and top the pie as a garnish.

ROASTED KABOCHA SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the squashes in half horizontally. Scoop out the seeds and discard. Dice the preserved lemon rind.
• Place the squash halves, cut side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle the flesh with olive oil, salt, pepper, diced preserved lemon rind, and a squeeze of lemon. Roast uncovered in the oven, 1 hour.
• Remove the squash from the oven. Cut into large wedges, drizzle with the remaining olive oil and lemon juice, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley. Serve immediately, or use in Pasta with Roasted Kabocha Squash and Pecorino Romano (see recipe).

KABOCHA RAVIOLI

Steps:

• For the fresh pasta dough: Pour the flour onto a clean work surface and create a well in the center. Add the eggs, oil and salt. Whisk the eggs with a fork until combined, starting to add a little bit of flour to the liquid at a time. Keep whisking until the liquid has combined with enough flour that you can incorporate the rest of the flour with your hands. Continue adding, folding and kneading the dough until everything has been combined, 5 to 8 more minutes. Form the dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Place the dough ball in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to rest.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the filling: Sprinkle the squash with salt, pepper and olive oil in a 14-inch cast-iron pan. Roast until cooked through and roasted, about 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly. Put into a food processor with the ricotta, nutmeg, 1 egg and half the Parmesan. Place this mixture into a piping bag. Beat the remaining egg in a bowl for egg wash.
• Roll out the pasta dough according to the manufacturer's directions for ravioli sheets.
• With the piping bag, put heaping tablespoon-size dots of the filling at least 3 inches apart and 1 inch above the edge of the pasta sheet. Brush the edges with the egg wash and fold over the dough carefully, pressing out the air from the filling, allowing it to seal. Using a fluted cutter, cut between each of the ravioli to separate. Put the ravioli in the refrigerator to let them set while you wait for your water to come to a boil.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt heavily. Add the ravioli in batches, and cook for 3 minutes, allowing the filling and pasta to cook through. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce.
• Put the butter in a large, high-sided saute pan and cook over medium-low heat until it reaches a noisette stage, when the butter is bubbling and starting to get a little bit brown. Throw in your crushed walnuts and sage and stir to combine. When the ravioli are cooked, scoop them out of the water and place them in the pan with the butter sauce, tossing to coat.
• Plate the ravioli and garnish with the remaining Parmesan.

KABOCHA SQUASH MASH

Steps:

• Peel and roughly chop 1 large kabocha squash (about 3 pounds), discarding the seeds. Cook in boiling salted water until soft, about 20 minutes; reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, then drain. Puree the squash and the reserved liquid with 1/4 cup heavy cream; season with salt and pepper. Top with toasted pepitas.
• Use a food processor or immersion blender to puree these veggies-they're too fibrous for a potato masher.

KABOCHA SQUASH PANNA COTTA

Steps:

• For the panna cotta: In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup of the milk. Let soften for 5 minutes. Place the remaining 3/4 cup milk, the cream, squash, and thyme in a saucepan. Whisk to blend. Warm over moderate heat just until it begins to simmer. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
• Remove from the heat and add the softened gelatin, stirring until the gelatin dissolves. Season with salt and pepper. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. (You can speed up the cooling by placing the bowl in an ice bath.) Divide among 6 espresso cups or other small ramekins. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• For the baguette toasts: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush the baguette slices lightly with olive oil on both sides. Bake until golden and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.
• For the salad: Trim the core and any dark green outer leaves and leaf tips from the frisée. Tear the pale yellow center leaves into bite-size pieces. Just before serving, put the frisée in a bowl and toss with the olive oil, vinegar, almonds, and a pinch of salt.
• To serve, put a panna cotta ramekin on each of 6 salad plates. Accompany each portion with 3 toasts and a tuft of frisée salad.
• Enjoy with Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Reserve or another rich, barrel-fermented Chardonnay.
• For the kabocha squash puree, preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut a small kabocha squash in half and remove the seeds. Put one half in a pie tin or small baking dish, cut side down, reserving the other half for another use. Add 1/2 inch of water. Bake until the squash feels tender when probed, about 45 minutes. Let cool, then scoop the flesh from the skin into a bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon until smooth, then measure out 1/2 cup.
• Marcona almonds are Spanish almonds that are typically skinned, fried in oil, and salted. They are available at well-stocked grocery stores and specialty food stores. For a substitute, toast whole blanched almonds, then toss with olive oil and salt.