Carol Ryans Baked Squash Food

MASTER RECIPE: BAKED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375ºF/190ºC. Cover a baking sheet with parchment.
• Cut squash in half from the stem to the base. Make sure you have a heavy, sharp knife and a stable surface.
• Use a sturdy spoon to scoop the seeds and pulp from the cavity.
• Pour the oil into the cavity of one squash and from there, use your fingers to rub it all over the cut sides of both squashes.
• Place the cut squash face down on the sheet and place in preheated oven.
• Remove from oven when squash liquor (sugary juices) are showing around the cut squashes and have turned a candied dark brown with burnt black edges, about 30 minutes for a smaller squash like honeynut, up to an hour. The time will vary greatly based on the size and age of your squash. Newly-harvested squashes are wetter and take longer to cook.
• Cut in serving-sized chunks, such as ¼ of an average butternut squash per person, plate up, and serve. Provide any topping such as butter, salt, pesto, cheese, salsa, soy sauce, or whatever it is that may fit well with the rest of the meal that day, but encourage everyone to enjoy how incredibly delicious this squash is perfectly plain, just the way it is!

OVEN ROASTED SQUASH WITH RICOTTA AND POMEGRANATE SEEDS

Steps:

• For the squash: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the squash in half along the equator. Scoop out seeds and discard. Cut into 1 1/2-inch crescent-like slices, then cut the slices in half and place in a large bowl. Add the sage, onions, olive oil, Aleppo pepper, salt and black pepper. Toss, then place in a baking dish. Bake until the squash is caramelized and tender but still holding its shape, about 50 minutes.
• For the garlic confit: Add the garlic and oil to a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, uncovered and undisturbed, about 30 minutes. Cool, then place garlic, half of the oil and 2 tablespoons water in a blender and puree. Set aside.
• For the sweet garlic ricotta: Add the ricotta and 3 tablespoons pureed garlic confit to a bowl and whisk to combine. Season to taste with salt. Set aside.
• Place the squash on a serving platter. Dollop with the sweet garlic ricotta and garnish with the pomegranate seeds.

CAROL RYAN'S BAKED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a casserole or souffle dish and set aside.
• Trim and slice the squash in rounds about 3/4 inch thick. Bring about an inch of water to a boil in a medium-size saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the squash slices, cover the pan and steam just until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain the squash, reserving the liquid for another use, like making a broth.
• Heat the 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan. Add the sour cream and stir to mix well. Fold chives and onion into sour-cream mixture. Add egg yolk and stir to incorporate thoroughly. Taste, and add salt and pepper.
• Arrange squash slices in an overlapping layer in the casserole. Pour sour-cream mixture over the squash so that each slice has some sour cream on it. Sprinkle bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese over slices.
• Put the dish in the middle of the oven and bake 25 minutes, or until top is browned and sizzling.

ROASTED SQUASH MASH

Steps:

• Halve and seed 2 honeynut squash (or 1 small butternut squash). Rub all over with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast cut-side down on a foil-lined baking sheet at 450 degrees F until tender, about 25 minutes. Scoop the flesh into a bowl and mash with 2 tablespoons butter and a pinch each of nutmeg, cayenne and salt. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and chives.

MAPLE-ROASTED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the squash, cut sides up, on a sheet pan. Place 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup in the cavity of each squash. Brush the cut sides with olive oil and sprinkle the squash with 3 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the squash, until tender when pierced with a small knife.
• Place the squash on a serving platter. If the halves are too large for one serving, cut each piece in half through the stem. Drizzle lightly with extra maple syrup, sprinkle with sea salt, and serve hot.

ROASTED SQUASH, CARROTS & WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Cut carrots in half lengthwise, then in half crosswise., In a large bowl, toss squash and carrots with brown sugar, oil, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Transfer to two greased foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Roast 30 minutes, stirring occasionally., Sprinkle walnuts over vegetables. Roast 5-10 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender.