Roasted Butternut Squash With Pine Nuts And Parmesan Food

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH PINE NUTS AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 2.
• Use a knife to lop off the top and bottom off the squash. Slice the skin off the sides, then cut the squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into large pieces, cut the pieces into slices, cut the slices into matchsticks, then cut the matchsticks into a dice. Place in a bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a small pan, or in a bowl in the microwave. Use a spoon to skim off the solids so most of them are gone. (Note: It's easier if you go ahead and melt the whole stick, then reserve the rest for another use.)
• Drizzle 4 tablespoons of the skimmed butter into the bowl with the squash. Add salt and pepper and toss to combine. Pour the squash onto a baking sheet and spread them into a single layer.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, then crank up the heat to 400 and continue roasting for 15 minutes or so, until the squash is sizzling and golden brown around the edges. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside.
• Grate the Parmesan and sprinkle it over the squash. Toss it quickly so that the cheese won't melt (it should only soften), then transfer the mixture to a plate.
• Toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Add those to the plate with the squash and toss to combine.
• Add more Parmesan if you'd like, then serve the squash in small dishes or over a salad tossed in vinaigrette.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO WITH SPINACH AND TOASTED PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add about 3 1/2 cups squash in even layer and cook without stirring until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes; stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender and browned, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer squash to bowl and set aside.
• Return skillet to medium heat; add reserved squash fibers and seeds and any leftover diced squash. Cook, stirring frequently to break up fibers, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to large saucepan and add vegetable broth and water; cover saucepan and bring mixture to simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low to maintain bare simmer.
• While broth mixture is simmering, add 1 teaspoon olive oil to now-empty skillet and swirl to coat. Add 4 ounces baby spinach and cook, covered, over medium heat, until leaves begin to wilt, about 2 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring constantly, until fully wilted, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter (or margarine) in now-empty skillet over medium heat; when foaming subsides, add onions, garlic, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add rice to skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until grains are translucent around edges, about 3 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring frequently, until fully absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, strain hot broth through fine-mesh strainer into medium bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Return strained broth to saucepan and discard solids in strainer; cover saucepan and set over low heat to keep broth hot.
• When wine is fully absorbed, add 3 cups hot broth and half of reserved squash to rice. Simmer, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and bottom of pan is almost dry, about 12 minutes.
• Stir in about 1/2 cup hot broth and cook, stirring constantly, until absorbed, about 3 minutes; repeat with additional broth 2 or 3 more times, until rice is al dente. Turn off the heat, stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter/margarine, Parmesan, sage, and nutmeg; drain excess liquid from spinach and gently fold in spinach and remaining cooked squash. If desired, add up to 1/4 cup additional hot broth to loosen texture of risotto. Top individual servings of risotto with toasted pine nuts; serve immediately.

PASTA PAN-FRIED WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH, FRIED SAGE, AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375°.
• Cut the butternut squash in half and scoop out the strings and seeds the middle cavity.
• Flip the squash halves upside down and peel them.
• Cut the squash into 1-inch cubes.
• Toss with the onion, garlic, a drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper.
• Mince about half of the fresh sage leaves and also toss with the squash.
• Spread the squash mixture in a thin layer on a large baking sheet and roast for about 40 minutes or until the squash is soft.
• Heat salted pasta water to boiling and cook the farfalle until al dente.
• Drain and set aside.
• As the squash finishes roasting, heat about two tablespoons of olive oil in a large high-sided sauté pan.
• The oil is ready when it pops and sputters. (Don't let it start smoking.)
• Drop in the rest of the sage leaves and fry for about a minute, or until they begin to just shrivel up.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and salt lightly.
• Crush with the back of a spoon.
• Add half the pasta to the pan, along with half the roasted squash mixture. Crumble in half the sage.
• Cook, stirring frequently, for five minutes or until the pasta is heated through and getting crispy on some of the edges.
• Add the pine nuts and cook for another minute.
• Stir in half the cheese and serve.
• (Repeat the last step with the rest of the ingredients. The originator of the recipe also wrote--We split it into two because none of our pans are big enough to accommodate the entire recipe. It's very important that you not crowd the pan too much - you want the pasta to really pan-fry, not just steam up.).