Squash Braid Recipes

SEEDED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BRAID

Steps:

• Place squash in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain and mash squash (you will need 2 cups); cool to 110°-115°., In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk and water. In a large bowl, combine the pepitas, butter, egg, brown sugar, salt, cooked squash, yeast mixture and 2 cups flour; beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into thirds. Shape each into a 26-in. rope; braid ropes. Transfer to a greased baking sheet; form into a circle, pinching ends together to seal. Cover with a clean kitchen towel; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., For topping, beat egg and water; brush over braid. Sprinkle with pepitas. Bake at 350° for 18-23 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to wire rack.

SQUASH BRAID

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. In a bowl, combine squash, milk, butter, egg, brown sugar and salt; mix well. Add yeast mixture and 1-1/2 cups flour; mix well. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down. Divide into thirds; roll each third into a 18-in. rope. Place on a greased baking sheet. Braid ropes together; pinch ends. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Combine glaze ingredients; brush over braid. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

BRAISED CHICKPEAS WITH SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 10 to 12 minutes. (Alternatively, you can work in a non-ovenproof pot and transfer your mixture to a baking dish when it's time to move it to the oven.)
• Add the cayenne, a few turns of pepper and the garlic to the pot and cook another minute, until fragrant. Add the wine and cook until it's reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the squash, tomatoes, broth, chickpeas, rosemary and bay leaves; give everything a stir.
• Cover the pot, transfer to the oven and braise until the chickpeas are soft and the squash is tender, about 2 hours. Discard the bay leaves and rosemary sprigs before serving. Top with parsley, serve with bread and enjoy!

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic, ginger and a few grinds of pepper; stir until combined.
• Add the collard greens, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the collards wilt, about 5 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the collards are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the squash, cover and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and toss to coat. Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon juice or hot sauce if using.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic, ginger and a few grinds of pepper; stir until combined.
• Add the collard greens, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the collards wilt, about 5 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the collards are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the squash, cover and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and toss to coat. Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon juice or hot sauce if using.

SQUASH BRAID

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cover peeled and chopped squash with water. Bring water to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool and mash. Reserve 1 cup for use in this recipe and freeze remainder for later use.
• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with milk, butter, 1 cup mashed squash, 1 egg, brown sugar, salt and 2 cups flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 6 equal pieces and roll each into a rope about 18 inches long. Take 3 ropes, pinch ends together and then braid ropes together. Pinch ends to seal. Do the same with the other 3 ropes of dough. Place braids on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, beat together 1 egg and 1 tablespoons water; brush loaves with egg wash. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from baking sheets and let cool on a wire rack.

SUMMER SQUASH BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs until fluffy. Beat in the sugar, oil, and vanilla. Gradually mix in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Fold in the squash. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH BREAD BRAID

Steps:

• Pierce spaghetti squash with a fork 10 times and place whole in a slow cooker. Cook on Low until very soft, about 4 hours. Halve squash and remove seeds.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Unroll pizza dough onto a greased baking sheet.
• Scrape squash flesh into a bowl; mix in spaghetti sauce, ground beef, and zucchini. Spread squash mixture lengthwise down the middle of the dough. Top with cubed mozzarella cheese.
• Cut sides of dough into even strips starting at the outside edges and stopping at the squash mixture. Fold alternating strips over squash mixture to form a braid. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with parsley.
• Bake in the preheated oven until dough is brown and cheese is melted, about 30 minutes. Cool for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.

AUTUMN SPICED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.
• Beat sugar and shortening together in a bowl until fluffy. Stir butternut squash, eggs, and water into sugar mixture.
• Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in another bowl; stir into sugar mixture. Add nuts and raisins; stir until batter is just blended. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in the pans for 15 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH QUICK BREAD

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients in one bowl.
• Combine wet ingredients in another bowl.
• Add dry ingredients to wet and mix just until combined.
• Put in two ungreased loaf pans.
• Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

WINTER SQUASH BRAISED IN CIDER

Steps:

• Peel squash, halve lengthwise, and remove seeds with spoon. If using delicata, slice into half-moons 1/2-inch thick; if using butternut, dice into 1/2-inch chunks.
• Melt butter in a 12-inch skillet over low heat until foamy. Add rosemary, and cook over medium heat to flavor butter, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes. Add squash, cider, and 1 teaspoon salt. If squash is not covered by cider, add water to cover.
• Bring to a simmer, and cook until squash is tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. Remove squash to a plate. Cook cider mixture until it has reduced to a glaze, stirring frequently, 5 to 10 minutes. Add squash back to skillet. Cook until just warmed through. Sprinkle with vinegar, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to warm serving bowl, and serve immediately.