Seared Acorn Squash With Tahini Sauce And Walnut Parsley Pesto Recipes

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH PARSLEY AND PECAN PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Rub the cut sides of the squash with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set the squash cut-side down on a baking sheet. Cut the tops off of the garlic heads, exposing the cloves but leaving the heads intact. Set the heads on a large piece of foil, drizzle with the remaining 1 teaspoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Wrap up the foil to make a pouch and place on the baking sheet with the squash. Bake until the squash is tender and the garlic soft and roasted, 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• When the roasted garlic is cool enough to handle, press out the cloves and add them to a food processor along with the minced garlic, toasted pecans, 1/2 bunch parsley and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pulse until the ingredients are pulverized. With the motor running, drizzle in the 1/4 cup olive oil. Add the Asiago and lemon juice and pulse until just combined.
• Shred the squash into a bowl using a fork and toss with 1/2 cup of the pesto. Season with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with chopped parsley.

WALNUT AND PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Place garlic and salt in a mortar; smash and mash with the pestle until it becomes a paste, 5 to 8 minutes. Add walnuts; mash walnuts into a paste until you reach your desired texture (coarse or smoother), another 5 to 8 minutes. Add parsley and mash to break up and blend with the walnut/garlic mixture, about 4 minutes. Add lemon juice and olive oil; stir, mash, and emulsify liquids into the mixture until it becomes very thick and well blended, 8 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. If mixture seems too thick, whisk in a tablespoon of water, or as needed.
• Spread on bread, use on pizza or pasta, or on roasted chicken. The taste is just like garlic butter, so use it as such.

BUCATINI WITH WALNUT-PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing occasionally, until fragrant and slightly darkened, 8-10 minutes. Let cool.
• Pulse 3/4 cup walnuts in a food processor or blender until very finely chopped (but not pasty). Reserve remaining walnuts for serving. Remove stems from chiles; add to food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Transfer walnut mixture to a medium bowl and stir in garlic, Parmesan, oil, and 1 cup parsley. Season pesto with salt and pepper.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot and add pesto along with 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Toss, adding splashes of cooking liquid as needed, until pesto coats pasta and sauce is glossy.
• Crush reserved walnuts with the flat side of a knife. Divide pasta among bowls and top with walnuts and more parsley.
• Do Ahead
• Pesto can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH PARSLEY WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Pierce squash all over with a sharp small knife. Cook in a microwave oven (see cooks' note, below) at high power (100 percent) 8 minutes, then turn over and microwave until squash gives when pressed gently, 8 to 10 minutes more. Cool squash 5 minutes.
• While squash is cooking, toast nuts in a dry small heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and a shade darker, about 6 minutes, then cool completely.
• Pulse nuts and garlic in a food processor until finely ground. Add parsley, oil, cheese, water, salt, pepper, and zest and pulse until parsley is coarsely chopped.
• While squash is still hot, cut off stem from squash and discard, then carefully halve squash lengthwise (it will emit steam) and discard seeds. Working over a bowl, scrape out squash flesh with a fork, loosening and separating strands. Toss with pesto in a bowl.

GRILLED SQUASH WITH WALNUT-PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. In a food processor, pulse parsley, walnuts, garlic, Parmesan, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined, about 10 seconds. With machine running, add olive oil in a slow, steady stream and process until a paste forms. Season pesto with salt and pepper and transfer to a small bowl.
• Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Season squash with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill squash, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve with pesto.

ROASTED SQUASH WITH LEMON-TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 425°F. Place kabocha on a rimmed baking sheet and delicata on a second sheet. Divide 3 tablespoons oil and 1 1/4 teaspoons cumin between sheets. Season squash with salt and pepper; toss. Roast for 15 minutes.
• Combine remaining 1/4 teaspoon cumin, 1 tablespoon oil, and scallions in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper and toss to evenly coat. Scatter scallion mixture over squash, dividing evenly between sheets, and continue to roast until squash is tender but not mushy, about 15 minutes longer (time may vary depending on squash).
• Meanwhile, whisk lemon juice, tahini, and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer squash to a platter. Drizzle tahini sauce over and sprinkle with Aleppo pepper.