butternut squash – Buen provecho…2022

Butternut Squash Coconut Curry

Imagine my surprise at finding more butternut squash at our Favourite supermarket, Superama, here in Mexico. It is highly unusual, so much so that I bought all seven of them! They were hidden among the pumpkins which had just arrived. Those of you who live in northern climates will easily find these everywhere this time of year. Pinterest to the rescue with this recipe…

Butternut Squash Coconut Curry

Ingredients

4 cups butternut squash, peeled, deseed and diced
1-2 tablespoon coconut oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
2 tablespoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 14-ounce can coconut milk
1 cup vegetable broth, or 1 vegetable bouillon plus 1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper, optional
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan on medium-high. Add onion, garlic and ginger.

2. Cook until onion is soft, about 3 minutes.

3. Stir in curry powder, paprika and thyme. Cook for 1 minute.

4. Stir in squash, coconut milk, vegetable broth.

5. Bring to boil, Cover and reduce to a simmer on low heat.

6. Cook for 15 minutes until squash cubes are tender but not mushy

7. Stir in pepper, salt and cilantro.

Delicious served with rice.

Sheet Pan Maple Dijon Chicken with Roasted Butternut Squash

Who expects to find butternut squash in summer, let alone summer in MEXICO? Walking into our favourite grocery store in Merida, Yucatan, there were TWO just waiting for us…at the door! No others in sight…was I dreaming? Nope, snatched ’emup fast.

You northerners can watch for them later. This recipe was a keeper. How can you say no to maple syrup and Dijon mustard?

Sheet Pan Maple Dijon Chicken with Roasted Butternut Squash

4 chicken thighs
salt and pepper
2/3 cup maple syrup
2/3 cup Dijon mustard
1 1/2 lb butternut squash, uncooked, peeled and cubed into 1- or 2-inch cubes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 450 F. Prepare a large rimmed baking sheet (line it with aluminum foil, as it can be runny)
Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
In a medium bowl, whisk maple syrup and Dijon mustard.
Dip each chicken thigh on both sides into maple-Dijon mixture and place on a prepared baking sheet, skin side up, leaving space between all chicken thighs.
Add cubed butternut squash into the same bowl with the remaining maple-Dijon mixture, mix to coat, and add butternut squash on the baking sheet around the chicken, in one layer. If you run out of maple-Dijon mixture, whisk a little bit more.
Roast for 30 or 40 minutes at 450 F, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through.

The original recipe called for adding Brussel sprouts, but I had some leftover fresh asparagus. They didn’t turn out as I had hoped….

BBQ Butternut Squash

You are so fortunate if you live in a place where there is lots of fresh fall produce, like squash, parsnips and turnips. While we were visiting our friend in Waterloo, we had this great squash. She used a different type of squash, but the results were excellent. If you are a squash fan, you’ll love this one. Someday soon, I am going to try roasting carrots, peppers, baby squash and onions in the same seasonings, using a foil bag. I will let you know how those turn out.

BBQ Butternut Squash

1 medium Butternut squash, cut into wedges
3 tsp Cumin, ground
1 tsp Salt
3 cloves Garlic, crushed into a paste
1/2 medium Lemon, zest and juice it
1 tsp Pepper, black, ground
3 tbsp Olive oil

1. In a small ball or a pestal and mortar, put the ground cumin, the salt, the pepper. Crush 2-3 cloves of garlic and press with a knife to a mush, add to the mix.
2. Add in juice of a 1/2 lemon and then the oil. Mix.
3. Cut your butternut squash into wedges, leaving the skin on.
4. Score the sides of the squash wedges. Using your hands, rub all the mix onto the pieces of squash cover the enture thing, include the skin. Set in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
5. Heat grill. Grill in direct heat about 4 minutes on each flesh side. Then put on skin side, grill for another 12-14 minutes, or until the squash is tender to the touch. Thoughtout the grilling, keep putting mix on to keep moist.
6. Serve hot. If you have it, put a bit of the Sugar Free Apricot Jam with it.

Per Serving: 103 Calories; 7 g Fat; 0.95 g Sat Fat; 0 mg Cholesterol; 393 mg Sodium; 11 g Carb; 0.66 g Fiber; 1 g Protein.