Sweet Roasted Winter Squash Recipes

SWEET AND SPICY ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat 400° F. and line a baking sheet with foil. Place the diced butternut squash onto the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle on the chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Toss everything together with your hands until coated.
• Roast for 20-25 minutes or until the squash is tender. Toss the squash halfway during the cooking time. Remove the squash from the oven, drizzle with honey and toss to coat.
• Put the squash into a serving bowl and top with toasted pepitas and chopped cilantro.

ROASTED WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler. Halve lengthwise, discard the seeds, then cut into 1-inch dice. Place in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter ceases to foam and has turned a light brown, pull the pan off the heat and immediately add the sage, sugar, vinegar (stand back so as not to get splattered), molasses and toasted spice rub. Mix well and let simmer over medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the squash and toss well, then transfer to a heavy rimmed baking sheet or baking dish large enough to hold the squash in a single layer. Place in the oven and roast, tossing at least once, until very tender and caramelized, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Set aside until cool enough to handle but still warm, so the liquids are runny.
• Working in batches, if necessary, transfer the warm squash and all the cooking liquids to a food processor and process until smooth. Use immediately, refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Serving suggestions: Serve the puree on its own as a side dish for roast chicken, turkey, or pork; stir into polenta just before the end of cooking; use as a stuffing for ravioli; make into a soup; or use to flavor pastina. Or omit the sage, season with ground cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg to taste, and use as a substitute for canned pumpkin in your favorite pumpkin pie recipe.
• Variation for Smoky Butternut Squash: Cook the prepared squash on a baking sheet in a covered grill with soaked chips to give a slightly smoky taste. Substitute in any of the recipes that call for roasted squash. If cooking kabocha, acorn, or other difficult-to-peel squash, cut in half, scoop out the seeds, and rub the insides and cut edges with the vinegar/molasses mixture. Place on a baking sheet, cut sides up, and roast at 400 degrees F until tender. Scoop out and puree.
• Toasted Spice Rub:
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool.
• Put mixture into a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients. Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
• Chef's notes: Toasting freshens spices, releases their oils, and makes them more fragrant, as well as adding a new dimension of flavor.
• Taste your chili powder before adding and, if spicy and hot, cut back the amount. California chilies are almost sweet, not hot.
• Yield: about 1 cup

ROASTED WINTER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cut the carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, and butternut squash in 1 to 1 1/4-inch cubes. All the vegetables will shrink while baking, so don't cut them too small.
• Place all the cut vegetables in a single layer on 2 baking sheets. Drizzle them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss well. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until all the vegetables are tender, turning once with a metal spatula.
• Sprinkle with parsley, season to taste, and serve hot.

SWEET ROASTED WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Cover a baking pan with aluminum foil and coat with vegetable oil.
• Remove acorn squash stems, cut in half lengthwise, and clean out the seeds. Place squash cut side-down onto the prepared baking pan.
• Roast in the preheated oven until tender, 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the squash
• While squash roasts, place brown sugar, butter, sea salt, cinnamon, and allspice in a small bowl. Microwave to melt the butter, about 30 seconds; stir to combine.
• Remove squash from the oven, turn over, and coat with the sugar mixture. Continue to roast for 5 minutes more.

ROASTED WINTER SQUASH WITH SEARED COD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt half the butter in a small saucepan.
• Put 2 tablespoons melted butter in a roasting pan and arrange squash slices in one layer on it. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter on top. Roast without turning for 20 to 30 minutes, or until squash is tender; keep warm while you finish fish.
• About 5 minutes before squash is done, put a heavy skillet over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes; add 2 tablespoons butter. Dredge cod pieces lightly in flour and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add to skillet and turn heat to high; cook, turning only once, until nicely browned on both sides and cooked through (a thin-bladed knife will meet little or no resistance when fish is done).
• Arrange squash slices on a platter, then top with fish. Add remaining butter to skillet over medium heat; when it sizzles and browns, add vinegar and cook for 10 to 20 seconds more. Pour over all and serve immediately.

SWEET & SPICY ROASTED KABOCHA SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F Line a baking sheet with a silicon baking liner or parchment paper.
• De-seed and cut the squash into slices about 1/4 inch thick.
• Combine all the dry ingredients. Toss the squash slices in this until coated thoroughly. Add the soy sauce and toss well again.
• Spread the slices in a singler layer on the baking sheet and drizzle them with the oil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then turn over, drizzle with more oil and sprinkle more sugar, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

SWEET AND SOUR WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a baking dish large enough to accommodate the squash in an even layer, toss the squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and place in the oven. Roast 20 minutes, until not quite tender. Remove from the heat.
• Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar in a small bowl. Heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet, and add the garlic and the squash. Cook, stirring gently, for a few minutes, until fragrant and the squash is tender but not too soft - about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sugar and vinegar, and continue to cook, stirring gently, until the liquid is just about gone. Add the mint, cook for another minute, and remove from the heat. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.