Herb Roasted Acorn Squash With Queso Fresco And Pomegranate Recipes

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH WITH POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a small saucepan, combine the juice, sugar, allspice, peppercorns, bay leaf, and cinnamon. Simmer until reduced to a syrup. Drain through a fine sieve into a small bowl, and discard spices.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Butter parchment. Lay the squash rings on top of parchment; brush tops with melted butter, and season with salt.
• Roast the squash until tender when pierced with a paring knife and undersides are well browned, about 30 minutes. Turn squash over, and brush tops with pomegranate glaze. Continue cooking 5 minutes more. Remove from oven; brush squash again with glaze. Transfer to a serving platter; serve immediately, garnished with pomegranate seeds.

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH AND GARLIC MASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the squash, cut sides down, in a glass baking dish. Place the baking dish into the oven and pour enough water into the baking sheet to fill halfway up the sides (this will help steam the squash so it doesn't dry out, making the flesh easier to mash). Place the foil-wrapped garlic directly on an oven rack. Roast the garlic and squash until very tender, about 1 hour. Cool slightly.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a heavy, small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and apple and saute until crisp tender, about 6 minutes. Season with salt, to taste.
• Scoop the cooled acorn squash flesh into a large bowl. Using a potato masher, mash the flesh until smooth. Unwrap the garlic and squeeze the roasted garlic flesh into the squash puree. Add the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter and mash. Stir in the thyme and season with salt, to taste. Place the mash in serving bowl and top with apple and leek saute.

HERB-ROASTED ACORN SQUASH WITH QUESO FRESCO AND POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil.
• In a medium bowl, combine the garlic, olive oil, chipotle powder, sage, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the squash slices to the bowl and toss until evenly coated with the spices and herbs.
• Place the squash on the prepared baking sheet and roast until a fork goes through smoothly, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and serve warm, topped with the queso fresco and pomegranate seeds. Sprinkle with some fine sea salt and garnish with cilantro leaves.

STUFFED ACORN SQUASH WITH SAUSAGE, BARLEY AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Brush the squash with 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. Season aggressively with salt and pepper and place cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Add 1 tablespoon water to the baking sheet and bake until tender, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Warm the remaining butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and shallots and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the Italian seasoning, sage and 3 ounces water and cook until the herbs are tender, about 2 minutes. Stir to combine.
• Add the sausage to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is golden brown and cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Add water as needed to deglaze the pan and prevent sticking while cooking.
• Transfer the sausage mixture to a large bowl and toss with the barley and lemon zest. Stir in the goat cheese, until large clumps still remain but are evenly dispersed. Stir and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Fill each squash half with the sausage mixture and bake cut-side up until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Drizzle with the honey before serving.