Shaved Butternut Squash With Dates Recipes

SHAVED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH DATES

Steps:

• Cut the squash into 2-inch chunks. Using a mandoline or vegetable peeler, shave the chunks into thin slivers.
• Place squash shavings in large bowl and add lemon zest and juice, olive oil and sugar. Season with a few pinches of salt and pepper and toss to coat. Macerate for 10 minutes, or until shavings tenderize (this could take up to 30 minutes, and once tender you can hold them for up to 6 hours). Toss with dates and season to taste with more salt and lemon juice.
• Pour buttermilk into a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Smear the buttermilk on a serving platter and top with shaved mixture. Sprinkle with pumpkinseeds.

SQUASH WITH DATES AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss squash, thyme, garlic, olive oil, and coconut oil in a large baking dish; season with kosher salt and pepper. Roast, tossing occasionally, until just tender, 40-45 minutes. Add dates; toss to coat. Roast until squash are very tender and dates are soft, 12-15 minutes.
• Arrange squash, dates, garlic, and thyme on a platter, spoon any oil in dish over squash, and sprinkle with sea salt.

SHAVED-BUTTERNUT-AND-CARROT SALAD WITH DATES AND SUNFLOWER SEEDS

Steps:

• Combine vinegar, mustard, shallot, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Pour in oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly.
• Using a mandoline or vegetable peeler, shave squash and carrots into a large bowl. Add dates, sunflower seeds, arugula, and vinaigrette. Toss thoroughly to coat, and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

SQUASH STUFFED WITH DATES AND ONION

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Cook and stir bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove bacon and discard most of the drippings, leaving about 2 teaspoons bacon drippings in the skillet. Drain bacon on paper towels. Cook and stir onion in the hot drippings until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir cooked bacon, dates, oregano, and basil into onion; add chicken stock to thin the filling.
• Cut the top and stem from the squash, jack o'lantern-style, and scoop out seeds and stringy pulp. Cut out and discard small button at the bottom of the squash. Stuff the date filling into the cavity and replace the top. Set squash into a baking dish, pour in 1/2 inch of water, and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until squash is tender, 40 minutes to 1 hour. Test for doneness by removing top and inserting a thin, sharp knife into the flesh at the bottom. Slice squash into wedges to serve.