Whole Stuffed Butternut Squash Recipes

APPLE & PECAN STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Place rack in upper third of oven. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut squash in half lengthwise; scoop out and discard seeds and stringy pulp. Sprinkle the cavities with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the squash halves cut-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Roast until tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
• Switch oven to broil. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, apple, garlic, sage and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in panko and pecans.
• When the squash halves are cool enough to handle, gently scoop 2 to 3 tablespoons of flesh from each half, and coarsely chop. Add the chopped squash to the vegetable mixture, stirring to combine. Divide the vegetable mixture evenly among the squash cavities. Broil until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately.

DOUBLE STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Halve the squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and drizzle with EVOO. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and fresh nutmeg and roast until just tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
• While the squash is in the oven, place a small skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the sage leaves to the skillet, gently stirring them around for a few minutes, until they are crispy and a deep green color. Remove the skillet from the heat, set the crispy leaves aside on a paper towel and reserve the brown butter.
• Carefully scoop the flesh of the squash into a bowl keeping the skins intact. Mash with the chicken stock, 1 cup of the Cheddar, 1 cup of the Parm, all of the ricotta, the reserved brown butter, and then adjust seasonings. Stuff the squash shells with the mashed squash mixture, top with a sprinkle of the remaining Cheddar and Parm and bake until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top.
• Remove from the oven and garnish with the fried sage leaves, lightly crushing them in your hand as you sprinkle over the top.
• You may serve a whole half as a meal, or cut each half in halves or thirds and serve as a side.

STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Place squash, cut side down, in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Fill pan with hot water to a depth of 1/2 in. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients. Turn squash cut side up; stuff with ham mixture. Cover unstuffed end of squash with foil to prevent drying. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until squash is tender.

WHOLE ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CHRISTMAS STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Cut the squash in half through the middle lengthways and scoop out the seeds using a spoon (don't discard them). Drizzle the squash halves with 1 tbsp oil and rub this in all over. Season and transfer to a baking tray, cut-side up. Roast for 50 mins-1 hr until tender through to the middle when pierced with a fork and lightly caramelised.
• Meanwhile, wash the reserved squash seeds in a sieve, removing any stringy pieces of flesh, then pat dry with a tea towel. Tip the seeds into a bowl, drizzle over 2 tsp oil and toss with pinch of each of the spices and a pinch of salt until coated. Transfer to a baking-parchment-lined baking tray and roast on the shelf below the squash for 10-15 mins until golden and crunchy, stirring halfway through to ensure they roast evenly. Leave to cool on the tray.
• Heat the remaining 1 tbsp oil in a wide pan over a medium heat and fry the onion for 10 mins until soft. Add the mushrooms and garlic, and cook for another 10 mins until the mushrooms are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in the walnuts, remaining mace and mixed spice, the cranberries, maple syrup, sage and kale. Cook for a few minutes more until the kale has started to wilt, then stir in the wine or stock along with some seasoning. Continue to cook until the liquid has mostly evaporated. Remove from the heat and stir in the breadcrumbs until combined (add a splash more wine or stock if you need to soften the bread). The mixture shouldn't be dry and crumbly, and should hold together when pressed. Season well.
• When the squash is tender, scoop out a hollow channel in the neck of the squash to make a gap for the filling. (You can keep the scooped-out flesh for soups or purées.) Spoon in the filling, packing it into the squash and piling up slightly. Drizzle over a little oil and roast for 20-30 mins until lightly crisp on top. Scatter with the squash seeds and slice to serve.

WHOLE STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat and place a rack on top.
• Halve the butternut squash lengthwise. Remove the seeds and discard. Using a melon baller, cut a channel into the neck of the squash, leaving a 3/4-inch border of flesh on the sides and bottom. Save the removed squash for another use or discard. Season the flesh with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a small skillet. Add the celery and onions and cook just until softened, about 3 minutes. Combine the celery and onions, cornbread, rosemary, thyme, sage, cranberries and pecans in a bowl and toss to combine well. Add the vegetable stock and mix just until moistened and combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Line the bottom of each butternut squash half with a layer of green beans. Top with the cornbread filling. Lay the carrot down the middle of 1 of the squash halves. Spread about 1 teaspoon of the butter over the carrot (enough to generously coat) and dot the cornbread mixture evenly with the remaining butter. Sprinkle the carrot with the brown sugar. Slide the squash pieces next to each other and carefully close the butternut squash and lay on one side. Tie in the middle and at each end with butcher's twine.
• Crumple a piece of aluminum foil into a 24-inch-long "snake". Curl this around and place on the prepared rack. Nestle the squash inside it so the squash sits flat on the rack and doesn't roll.
• Drizzle the whole squash with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast until a knife easily slides through all of the layers, 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let it sit for 10 minutes. Slice crosswise and serve.