Winter Squash With Anchovies Capers Olives And Ricotta Salata Recipes

WINTER SQUASH WITH ANCHOVIES, CAPERS, OLIVES AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, lidded skillet and add the onion, garlic clove, anchovy fillets and capers. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Remove the garlic clove and discard.
• Add the squash, stir together, add about 1/4 cup of water if the pan is dry, and cover the pan. Cook, stirring often, for about 30 minutes, until the squash is tender. Add the olives and continue to cook, stirring, for another 5 to 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (you probably won't need much salt).
• Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle on the ricotta salata and serve.

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.

PASTA WITH ROASTED WINTER SQUASH AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Cover a baking sheet with foil. In a bowl, toss the squash with the garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil until all of the squash is coated with oil. Transfer to the baking sheet, place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes, or until tender and caramelized. Remove from the heat. Remove the garlic cloves and discard. Transfer the squash to a wide pasta bowl and add the cheese. Keep warm.
• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook al dente, following the timing instructions on the package but checking the pasta a minute or two before. Ladle about 1/2 cup cooking water from the pasta into the bowl with the squash and cheese and stir together.
• When the pasta is ready, drain and toss with the squash mixture, the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, and the parsley. Serve hot.

CASSOLITA (WINTER SQUASH WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Place the squash, cut-side down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Add 1/4 cup of water, cover with aluminum foil, and bake until the squash is very soft, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, and, once cool enough to handle, scoop out the pulp into a large bowl.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet, and toss in the almonds and cook until golden. Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Sauté the onions in the same pan over medium heat until translucent. Then add salt to taste, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, 2 teaspoons of the sugar, the cinnamon and the raisins, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 more minutes or until the onions are caramelized.
• Gently fold the onions into the squash. Season with pepper and more salt, if necessary, and sprinkle with the remaining parsley, the almonds and, if you wish, the extra tablespoon of sugar. Serve immediately, or make ahead and reheat.

ORECCHIETTE WITH GRATED SQUASH, WALNUTS AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Begin heating a large pot of water. When it comes to a boil, add a generous amount of salt and keep at a simmer.
• Meanwhile, peel the squash (I use a vegetable peeler for this), cut it into chunks that will fit your food processor tube fitted with the grater blade, and grate. Alternately, grate with the large holes of a box grater.
• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the grated squash and salt to taste. Cook, stirring often, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the squash has softened. Add the garlic, walnuts and half the marjoram or all of the sage and cook, stirring, for another minute. Turn the heat down to medium.
• Add 1/2 cup of the water for the pasta and cook for another couple of minutes, until it has been absorbed and evaporated from the pan. Add another 1/2 cup water and continue to cook for another 3 minutes, or until the squash mixture is tender and moist. Taste, adjust salt, and add a generous amount of pepper. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Bring the pot of water back to a rolling boil and add the orecchiette. Cook al dente, usually 10 to 11 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the cooking water to the squash mixture before draining, then drain the pasta and toss with the squash, along with the remaining marjoram and the ricotta salata. Serve hot.