Coiled Greek Winter Squash Pie Food

COILED GREEK WINTER SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and oil the foil. Place the squash on the baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake until tender, 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the type of squash and the size of the pieces. Every 15 minutes, use tongs to turn the pieces over so that different surfaces become browned on the foil. Remove from the oven and allow to cool, then peel and place in a bowl. Mash with a fork, a large wooden spoon, a potato masher or a pestle. Turn the oven down to 375 degrees
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the leeks. Cook, stirring, until leeks are tender and just beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to the squash. Stir in the mint, nutmeg, walnuts, feta, currants and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Beat the egg and stir in.
• Brush a 12-inch pie pan or cake pan with olive oil and line the bottom with parchment. Brush the parchment with olive oil
• Unroll the phyllo dough. Keep it covered with 2 towels, the first one dry and the second one damp. Take a sheet of phyllo and place it on your work surface horizontally (with the long edge closest to you). Brush lightly with olive oil and place another sheet on top. Fold the two layers in half horizontally, with the folded edge at the bottom. Brush with a little more oil. Leaving a 1-inch border on the bottom and sides, and a larger border on the top, spread a thin line of the filling (about 3 heaped tablespoons) down the length of the phyllo. Fold the ends up over the filling, then fold the bottom edge over and carefully roll up into a cylinder about 1 inch thick. Place, seam side down, along the edge of the pan. Continue to wrap the filling and coil the ropes into the pan, starting each cylinder where the last one left off, until the pan is full. If any of the filling and phyllo remains, start another, smaller coil in another pan, or make a little pie
• When the pie is assembled, brush the top with olive oil. Bake on the middle rack for 50 to 60 minutes, until nicely browned. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. You can serve this hot or warm. To serve, lift out pieces of the coil for each person

SAVORY WINTER SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in shortening and butter until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Shape into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight. , Preheat oven to 375°. For optional bacon roses, brush bacon with 3 tablespoons syrup. Roll bacon strip up; for larger roses use two strips. Secure bottoms with toothpicks. Dip top of each bacon rose in 3 tablespoons brown sugar. Arrange on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake until bacon is cooked through, 25-30 minutes., On a lightly floured cutting board, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; cut into 1-in.-wide strips. Brush with syrup and sprinkle with brown sugar. Chill until ready to use., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk eggs, squash and milk until smooth. Stir in cheeses, flour, rosemary, salt, nutmeg, thyme, pepper and cayenne. Pour into a greased 9-in. pie plate. Bake 20 minutes., Working quickly, arrange chilled dough strips over hot filling in a lattice pattern. Trim at edge of pie plate. Bake until crust is golden brown and center is set, 15-20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack before serving. If desired garnish with bacon roses, rosemary leaves and thyme leaves.

WINTER SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the squash in half, sprinkle both halves with the salt and sugar, and dot with 2 tablespoons butter. Bake in a casserole for one hour or until tender. Remove from oven and let cool. (Note: The squash can be roasted and scooped from the skin 3 days in advance.)
• Put the flour onto a clean surface or into a large bowl and make a well in the center. To the well, add the salt, the sugar, the butter, and 1 tablespoon cold water (add more if needed). With your fingertips, push the flour and butter together until large clumps form. Scoop the mixture together and with the heel of your hand, push until the dough comes together. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or freeze for up to 2 weeks.
• Dust a clean surface with flour; with the end of a rolling pin, pound the chilled dough into a large disc.
• Roll the dough to fit an 11-inch pie plate: start from the center and roll away from yourself. Transfer the dough to the pie plate and gently press the dough into the plate and chill for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place a large piece of parchment over the dough and weigh it down with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges are golden brown, 15-20 minutes, rotating once. Remove from the oven, pour the beans into a heat-proof pan, and cool the crust. (Note: The crust can be rolled out and pre-baked up to 3 days in advance. After cooling, cover with plastic wrap or foil and store at room temperature.)
• For the filling, remove and discard the seeds from the cooked squash. Scoop the flesh into a large bowl. Add the cream, eggs, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, pinch of salt, lemon zest, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk to combine, leaving the squash chunky.
• Pour the mixture into the pie crust. Bake until the custard is set and golden-brown, 40-50 minutes.
• Let cool and serve with cinnamon-flavored whipped cream.

WINTER SQUASH AND WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and oil the foil. Place the squash on the baking sheet and rub or toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Place in the oven and bake until tender, 40 to 60 minutes depending on the type of squash and the size of the pieces. Every 15 minutes use tongs to turn the pieces over so different surfaces become browned on the foil. Remove from the oven and allow to cool, then peel and place in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse several times, scrape down the sides of the bowl, then purée until smooth.
• Heat another tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onion. Add a generous pinch of salt, turn the heat to medium low and cook, stirring often, until very tender, sweet and lightly caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to the squash. Add the mint, nutmeg, walnuts, Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon olive oil and pulse together. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve on croutons.

WINTER SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Line a pie plate with pastry, crimp edge attractively and chill.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Strain the cooked squash and set aside to cool.
• Add sugar, salt and spices; mix thoroughly.
• Beat the eggs, add cream and mix with squash.
• Pour into prepared pie pan, place in oven and bake for ten minutes; reduce heat to 350F and bake for 40 minutes longer.

GREEK SQUASH PITA (SAVOURY)

Steps:

• Put the grated pumpkin in a colander (sieve) and toss with 2 tsps salt.
• Allow to drain for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, squeeze pumpkin between hands to remove extra water.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and add pumpkin and onion.
• Saute gently for 8-10 minutes to evaporate more liquid.
• Remove from heat, let cool 5 minutes and stir in cheese, parsley, dill, breadcrumbs, milk, some pepper and the eggs.
• Combine this mixture well.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Get a 13 X 9 inch pan and brush with some melted butter.
• Start layering the phyllo pastry in the pan, brushing each layer with butter before adding the next.
• Use up 1/2 the phyllo+ 2 extra sheets.
• Spoon the pumpkin filling into the prepared pan and turn any overhanging phyllo inwards, over the filling.
• Layer the remaining phyllo sheets neatly on top, buttering each before adding the next.
• Butter the last sheet VERY generously.
• Cut away any overhang and, with the tip of a small, sharp knife, cut gently through the top layers of pastry, lengthwise, into 3 strips.
• Be careful not to cut all the way down through the pastry, you just want to pierce the top few layers.
• Cut through the pastry in the width too, creating the pieces that will eventually be served when the pie is baked.
• Bake pie for approximately 1 hour, until a lovely golden-brown colour.
• Remove, and allow to rest for 15-20 minutes before cutting all the way through the pre-cut pieces to serve.
• Serve hot or cold.

SQUASH, WINTER HERB & CRISPY BUTTER BEAN PIE

Steps:

• Put the flour in a mixing bowl, and add the butter and ½ tsp fine salt. Rub gently with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, or blitz in a food processor. Stir through the herbs, lemon zest and cheddar. Beat the egg yolk with 50ml cold water, add to the bowl and mix until it forms a dough. Add more water, 1 tsp at a time, until it comes together into a smooth dough. Wrap and chill in the fridge while you make the filling.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss the squash pieces with 1 tbsp olive oil and some seasoning. Tip onto a baking tray and roast for 25-30 mins until golden and tender. Leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, put the cloves of garlic in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 mins, then drain. Wipe the pan dry, add the garlic back in with 1 tbsp olive oil and fry on a high heat for 2 mins until golden. Add the balsamic vinegar and 100ml boiling water, bring back to the boil then turn down and simmer for 10 mins.
• Add the honey, most of the rosemary and thyme and a good pinch of salt. Continue to cook on a medium heat for a further 3-5 mins, or until most of the liquid has evaporated and the garlic cloves are coated in a dark syrup.
• Tip the cooled squash into a bowl and add the cheese, crème fraîche, lemon juice, mustard, parsley, a splash of Worcestershire sauce and the beaten eggs. Add a good pinch of salt and black pepper and gently fold in the garlic cloves.
• Roll out the pastry on a work surface dusted with flour to 3-4mm thick. Line a 23cm-diameter springform or loose-based cake tin with the pastry, ensuring a little spills over the edges (the pastry is quite short - you can patch up when lining the tin, if needed). Pour the filling into the pastry case.
• Pat the drained beans dry using kitchen paper and dress with a little olive oil, most of the lemon zest and a good pinch of salt, then scatter over the squash filling. Finish with the reserved rosemary and thyme, the sage, and a drizzle of olive oil. Bake for 1 hr-1 hr 10 mins or until the filling has set and the beans have popped and are crisp. Trim the edge of the pastry to neaten.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool a little (about 20 mins), then take it out of the tin. Scatter the remaning lemon zest and more herbs on top and serve warm. Leftovers are great cold, too.