Southern Summer Squash Pudding Recipes

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUDDING

Steps:

• Make the squash: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat squash with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking sheet, cut sides down, and cover with parchment-lined foil. Roast until tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 50 minutes. Let cool.
• Scoop flesh from squash using a large spoon; discard skin. Puree flesh in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the bechamel: Heat milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbles form around the edge. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add flour, and cook, whisking constantly, until flour is incorporated. Continue to cook until golden, with a nutty scent, about 3 minutes more. Whisk in milk in a slow, steady stream. Cook, whisking, until mixture is thick, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour or overnight. Whisk bechamel until smooth before using.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make the pudding: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, and coat with breadcrumbs. Beat 3 cups pureed squash, the melted butter, eggs, yolks, Parmesan, and nutmeg with mixer on medium speed until smooth. Fold in bechamel. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Cover with parchment-lined foil, and place in a larger baking dish. Fill with enough warm water to come halfway up sides of smaller dish. Bake until center is firm, about 40 minutes. Remove foil, and bake until top browns, about 35 minutes more. Let stand for 30 minutes before serving.

YELLOW SQUASH PUDDING

Steps:

• Lightly butter a shallow 2-quart flameproof casserole; set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan over med-high heat.
• Add in the onion, marjoram, thyme, and nutmeg; decrease heat to medium, and saute for about 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onion is lightly browned.
• Mix in the squash, salt, and pepper; cover and cook for 40-45 minutes until the squash is very soft, stirring occasionally.
• Toward the end of cooking, preheat the oven to 350°.
• Note: if the squash threatens to boil dry (not likely if you keep the heat at medium or med-low) add about 1/4 cup water.
• Scoop the squash mixture into the prepared casserole, spreading to the edge, and bake uncovered on the middle oven shelf for 30 minutes.
• Mix the cracker crumbs and melted butter together; set aside.
• After 30 minutes in the oven, stir the casserole well; scatter the crumb mixture evenly over all, then bake 30 minutes longer or until the topping is touched with brown.
• Note-if the topping is not brown enough to suit you, slide the casserole into the broiler, setting about 5 inches from the heat, and broil 1-2 minutes.

YUMMY SQUASH CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add squash chunks, cover, and steam until tender, 10 to 20 minutes. Transfer squash to food processor and blend until pureed.
• Stir cornstarch and salt into squash puree. Beat evaporated milk, 1/4 cup sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and ground nutmeg together in a separate bowl. Mix milk mixture into squash mixture. Pour squash mixture into a 9-inch square baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until custard is set, about 40 minutes.
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar together in a large glass bowl until foamy. Gradually beat 3 tablespoons sugar into egg mixture until meringue forms stiff peaks. Spread meringue over custard and bake until golden, about 5 minutes more.

SQUASH PUDDING

Steps:

• Cut the squash into approximately 1-inch chunks.
• Cook until tender; either by boiling in water on the stove or cooking for about 9 minutes, stirring once, in the microwave.
• Drain well and puree in blender.
• Mix all ingredients, except nutmeg, well.
• Pour into greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
• Bake 350° for at least 45 - 60 minutes, or until set. (The original recipe says 35 minutes, but it's still like soup at that point for me.).
• Serve warm or cold.