Roasted Calabaza Recipes

ROASTED CALABAZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F.
• Remove the seeds and peel the calabaza, then cut into 3/4-inch-wide pieces
• Toss with oil, salt, and pepper.
• Spread onto baking pans in a single layer.
• Roast the calabaza for 20 minutes then turn each piece.
• Roast for another 20 to 30 minutes or until they are caramelized.
• Serve with lime wedges spritz onto squash.

CALABAZA SOUP: SOPA DE CALABAZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the calabaza. Season with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven until tender, about 1/2 hour.
• In a large stockpot, heat 1/4 cup olive oil and saute onions, green pepper, red pepper, and garlic. Cook for about 8 minutes or until caramelized. Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 more minutes.
• Deglaze with white wine. Add chicken stock and heavy cream and the roasted calabaza. Add the thyme. Bring to a boil. Simmer about 20 minutes. Puree all the ingredients. Strain the soup and adjust the seasonings. Garnish with vanilla-flavored whipped cream, if desired.

ROASTED CALABAZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
• Seed and peel calabaza, then cut into 3/4-inch-wide pieces (about 3 inches long).
• Toss with oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper, then divide between 2 large shallow heavy baking pans, spreading in 1 layer.
• Roast calabaza, switching position of pans and turning calabaza over halfway through cooking, until tender and starting to caramelize, 35 to 45 minutes.

ROASTED CHICKEN LEGS WITH CALABAZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
• Cut the calabaza into wedges; clean out all seeds and pulp and cut away the peels. Put the wedges flat in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper on each side.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• While squash bakes, combine lime juice, hot sauce, paprika, honey, salt, and pepper. Dry chicken legs and toss in sauce until evenly coated. Place chicken in a separate baking dish.
• When calabaza has baked for 15 minutes, lower oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) and place chicken alongside it.
• Bake until chicken is no longer pink in the centers and juices run clear and calabaza is soft, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone of a leg quarter should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove and plate.

CALABAZA, CORN, AND COCONUT SOUP

Steps:

• Make soup:
• Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften and edges are browned, about 4 minutes. Add cilantro stems and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Add squash pieces and cook, stirring frequently, 3 minutes. Stir in water, coconut milk, corn cobs, salt, and cayenne and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until squash is very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Prepare corn relish while soup simmers:
• Whisk together lime juice, salt, and sugar in a bowl, then add oil and whisk until combined.
• Cook corn kernels in a saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain in a sieve, then rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well, then transfer to dressing along with cilantro and shallot and toss well to coat.
• Finish soup:
• Discard corn cobs, then purée soup in batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids) until smooth, transferring to a 2-quart measure.
• Divide soup among bowls and gently stir 1/4 cup corn relish into each.