Monday, January 13, 2014

Mashed Butternut Squash


I realize the title of this recipe may not sound all that appealing, but I promise it tastes delicious! I made this as a side dish at our Christmas dinner, and it was a bit hit with everyone. But it's not just for a holiday meal, you can easily make this recipe any night of the week. I perused the internet to find a squash dish to make, and came across this one. With a few small tweaks, it worked perfectly for us!

The finished product. Yum!

Sautéed apples and onions. Not so photogenic, but smells amazing!

Mashed Butternut Squash (serves 8-10, approx 1 hour to make)
Ingredients:
- 4lbs of Butternut Squash (this is about 2 medium-sized squash)
- 2T Unsalted Butter
- 2 Apples, cored and diced
- 1 Yellow Onion, diced
- Salt
- 1 Clove of Garlic, minced
- 1/2t Cinnamon
- 1/2t Coriander
- 1/2t Cumin
- 1/8t Cayenne Pepper

Directions:
- Set the oven temperature to 375.
- Rinse and dry the outside of the squash, then cut in half lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds. Line a baking sheet in tin foil, and place the squash cut side down. Bake under the squash is tender, keeping in mind that the neck will take longer than the bulb. It should take 35-45 minutes, depending on the size.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the apples and onions with a dash of salt. Cover, and cook until onions are soft, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the cover and continue to sauté until the onions turn golden brown, about 10 minutes longer. Add the garlic and spices and stir to combine. When fragrant, about 30 seconds, remove from heat and set aside.
- When squash is done, scrape it out of the skin and add it to the pot. Use a large spoon or potato masher to mix and mash it all up.
- Serve and enjoy!

What's your favorite way to enjoy squash? Tell us in the comments!