Stuffed Baby Squash With Ginger Vinaigrette Per Sonia Stevenson Food

STUFFED BABY SQUASH WITH CREAMY MUSHROOMS & TARRAGON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Using a serrated knife, cut a small disc off the bottom of each squash so they stand upright on a baking tray. Slice off the tops (these will be used as lids), and scoop out and discard the seeded centre. Rub 2 tbsp oil on the inside and outside of the squashes, then season.
• Tip the dried mushrooms into a heatproof bowl and cover with 100ml boiling water. Cover and leave to soak for 15 mins. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a non-stick frying pan, and cook the shallots for 10 mins until softened and translucent. Drain the rehydrated mushrooms (reserving the soaking liquid) and roughly chop, then add to the pan along with the chestnut mushrooms. Fry for 10 mins more. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the stock, most of the reserved soaking liquid (leave the last few drops in the bottom of the bowl, as this may contain grit) and the grains, and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the crème fraîche, tarragon and cheese. Season.
• Divide the filling between the hollowed-out squashes. Put the 'lids' on top and bake for 1 hr-1 hr 10 mins, depending on the size of the squash. When ready, the squash skins should be blistered and the flesh soft and cooked through. Leave to rest for 10 mins before serving.

GINGER-SCALLION SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Place 1 halveed seeded spaghetti squash in a microwave-safe bowl with 2 tablespoons water; cover and microwave until tender, 15 minutes. Let cool, then scrape with a fork. Puree 1/2 cup chopped carrots with 1/4 cup water, a 1-inch piece of ginger, the whites from 3 scallions, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, sysauce and rice vinegar and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Toss with the squash and scallion greens. Top with toasted sesame seeds.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Place the prepared squash in a lightly greased oven proof dish.
• Dot with butter and sprinkle with ginger, brown sugar, salt & pepper.
• Cover and bake in a 350F for 45 minutes, uncover and place 8" from broiler to finish browning it for another 15 minutes or less - watch it doesn't get burnt.

CHEF JOHN'S STUFFED SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat it with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Stir in sausage and red bell pepper. Cook, stirring to break up sausage into small pieces, until sausage is browned and bell pepper is soft and sweet, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain off any fat.
• Stir goat cheese and sausage mixture in a bowl until well combined. Set aside.
• Hollow out a 3/4-inch deep well in the center of each squash half. Place each piece on the prepared baking sheet, cut-side up. Season with salt and black pepper; fill each with 1 to 2 tablespoons cheese and sausage mixture. Top each squash with breadcrumbs and lightly drizzle with remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is golden and squash is tender, about 30 minutes.

STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Cook the pearl barley following pack instructions, crumbling the stock cube into the boiling water for extra flavour. Drain and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts and almonds in a dry pan until nutty brown. Tip into a bowl and set aside. Use the same pan to toast the fennel and coriander seeds for a couple of mins, until aromatic. Grind the spices using a pestle and mortar.
• Cut the squash in half lengthways through the centre. Scoop out and discard the seeds and any fibrous bits. Keep scraping to carve out a channel down the centre of both squash halves for stuffing, you may need to score the flesh with a knife first if your squash is very firm. The squash shell should be about 1.5cm thick all over when you've finished. Roughly chop any squash you remove and set aside. Score the flesh of the 2 squash halves in a criss-cross pattern, trying not to pierce the skin, rub with 1 tbsp oil and season well.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in a pan and cook the onion, chopped squash and leek for 8-10 mins until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for another min. Add the pearl barley, nuts, spices, feta, herbs, dried fruit and lemon zest. Season well and cook for a min or 2 more, then pack the filling into the cavities in the 2 squash halves, keep any leftover stuffing. Tie the halves back together with kitchen string, as you would a joint of meat. The squash will shrink a little as it cooks, so make sure you make the knots nice and tight. Rub the outside with a little more oil and season well. Alternatively, wrap well in foil.
• Place in a roasting tin lined with some foil or parchment and cook for 1 hr. Check if the squash is cooked by inserting a knife, it should go in with little resistance and the flesh should feel soft. Scatter any remaining stuffing around the squashetta and return to the oven for another 5 mins to warm through. Mix the tahini, lemon juice, honey and a drizzle of water to make a dressing. Carve the squash into slices and serve drizzled with the tahini sauce and scattered with parsley.