There is so much you can do with butternut squash and the dishes are quite delicious. From soups to entrées to desserts, the recipes are endless. Once you get through that hard shell you can do wonders with this amazing vegetable. As a vegetarian, this is one of my favorites making any meal hearty and filling. It can be mixed into so many other things to create unique and healthy dishes as well. The multitask vegetable of all vegetables, that can warm your spirit in the coldness of the season. Here are a few great fall butternut squash recipes that you can add to your holiday meal.
Butternut Squash Puree
This recipe will help you to peel the squash easily and create a puree to add in other dishes or to eat alone.
Ingredients:
Butternut Squash
Seasonings (Optional)
Directions:
Poke holes all over the butternut squash with a fork. Cut the top and bottom off with a knife. Place it in the microwave for three and a half minutes. Remove it and allow it to cool. Now it should be easier to peel. Cut it open and remove pulp and seeds. Dice the squash into pieces and place them in a bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave for three more minutes or until soft. Now add chunks into a food processor to be puréed or mash with a fork. Add seasoning to taste if you like.
Butternut Squash Pie
Ingredients:
3 cups of butternut Squash puree
1 ¼ cups of sugar
4 ½ teaspoons of cornstarch
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
½ cup of softened butter
2 eggs
¼ cup of water
3 teaspoons of vanilla extract
9 inch Pie crust
Whipped cream
Directions:
You can use a ready-made pastry pie crust and set it aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place dry ingredients in large bowl and stir in the puree. Add the eggs, butter, water, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Pour mixture into crust and cover edges of crust with foil. Bake for 15 minutes and then remove foil. Bake for another 35 to 40 minutes. Take pie out of the oven and let cool for an hour or so, and then chill it in the refrigerator. Keep refrigerated and top with Whipped cream if desired.
Tips
After cooking your squash in the microwave for six minutes, you can peel and season it however you like and create a dish all on your own. There is no need for elaborate ingredients, just add all the things that you enjoy, and you will be amazed at what you can discover. Chop up some chunks and add them in your salads and see and feel the healthy difference. Roast one in the oven and garnish it with nutmeg and cinnamon. The possibilities are endless.
Photo Credit: istockphoto.com
