Squali Bianchi Food

SQUASH-BLACK BEAN CHILI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell peppers, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the chile powders, cumin, coriander, oregano and tomato paste. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are coated in the spice mixture, about 2 minutes, adding a splash of water if the mixture is dry.
• Add 2 cups water, the tomatoes, beans, bay leaves and 1 teaspoon salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and stir in the squash and rutabaga. Partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is slightly thickened, 30 to 40 minutes. (Add up to 1/2 cup water if the chili gets too thick.) Remove the bay leaves and season with salt. Serve with assorted toppings and cornbread.

BENGALI-SPICED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
• Cut the kabocha or butternut squashes into long wedges (I sliced the upper part of the butternut squash and halved the slices) and remove the peel, seeds and fibres from each piece.
• Heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion wedges, garlic, chilli and ginger to the pan and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onions are just tender.
• Add the spices and cook for a few seconds more.
• Add the pieces of butternut squash and toss everything together until well coated in the spicy mixture.
• Put the squash into a roasting tin and roast it for 35-40 minutes, or until the squash is tender and lightly browned around the edges.
• This is delicious served together with roasted chicken and mint raita, made from chopped fresh mint into natural yogurt.