Winter Squash Pasta Bake With Collard Greens Food

RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH AND COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and spread on the baking sheet in an even layer. Place in the oven, and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until tender and caramelized. Remove from the heat.
• While the squash is roasting, blanch the collard greens. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the collard greens. Blanch for four minutes and transfer to the ice water with a slotted spoon or skimmer. Drain and squeeze out extra water. Chop coarsely, or cut in ribbons.
• Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Heat the remaining oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick frying pan or a wide saucepan, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about three minutes, and add the garlic and about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and the garlic fragrant, about one minute, and add the rice. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate.
• Stir in the wine, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The wine should bubble but not too quickly. When the wine has just about evaporated, add the collard greens, a third of the squash and the saffron. Stir in a ladleful or two of the simmering stock, enough to just cover the rice. The stock should bubble slowly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion -- not too fast and not too slowly, adding more stock when the rice is almost dry -- until the rice is tender all the way through but still chewy, 20 to 25 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Add the remaining roasted squash and another 1/2 cup of stock to the rice. Stir in the Parmesan and parsley, and remove from the heat. Add freshly ground pepper, taste one last time and adjust salt. The mixture should be creamy (add more stock if it is not). Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading the risotto in a thin layer rather than a mound.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH MEATBALL CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut the squash lengthwise in half; discard seeds. Place halves on a microwave-safe plate, cut side down. Microwave, uncovered, on high until tender, for 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly., Preheat oven to 350°. Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt with remaining seasonings; add to beef, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. In a large skillet, brown meatballs over medium heat; remove from pan., In same pan, heat oil over medium heat; saute onion until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in collard greens, spinach, ricotta and remaining salt; remove from heat., Using a fork, separate strands of spaghetti squash; stir into greens mixture. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. or 3-qt. baking dish. Top with the plum tomatoes, meatballs, sauce and cheese. Bake, uncovered, until meatballs are cooked through, 30-35 minutes.

SKILLET COLLARDS AND WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Combine the barley and water in a medium saucepan, add salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer 50 minutes to an hour (longer for purple barley), until the barley is tender. There should still be plenty of water in the pot. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain the barley. Measure out 1 cup of the cooking water. Transfer the barley to a serving bowl and keep warm.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat and sear the squash for 5 to 10 minutes, until it is lightly colored. Add the greens and cook, stirring, until they are wilted, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, pepper and sage and cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes, until the mixture is fragrant, then add the stock or barley water and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 10 minutes, until the squash and greens are tender. Add lemon juice to taste, drizzle on the remaining olive oil, adjust seasoning and serve with the barley.

WINTER GREENS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a large gratin dish. Peel the squash, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the kale and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander, then squeeze out any excess water.
• Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and the well-drained greens. Cook until the greens are slightly wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, place half the sliced squash in the prepared dish and season with salt and pepper. Combine the nutmeg, allspice, and thyme in a small bowl. Spoon the kale over the squash and sprinkle with half the seasoning mixture. Top with remaining squash and sprinkle with the remaining seasoning.
• Pour the cream over the gratin and cover with a piece of aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes, remove the foil, and press down on the squash with a spatula to compress. Cover and continue baking until the squash is soft when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the breadcrumbs and cheese in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Decrease the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Remove the foil from the gratin dish and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the squash. Dot with the butter and continue baking, uncovered, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

WINTER SQUASH PASTA BAKE WITH COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roll deli ham and thinly slice; set aside.
• Mix squash, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt in a bowl and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm, but tender, about 20 minutes. Turn on the oven's broiler.
• While squash bakes, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Heat remaining olive oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onions and rosemary until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add collard greens and cook and stir until they begin to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Add ham; cook until greens are soft and ham is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Add cooked pasta and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Slowly add chicken broth and stir. Add pasta water as necessary to achieve a creamy consistency. Add warm squash; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Place briefly under the broiler until cheese is slightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic, ginger and a few grinds of pepper; stir until combined.
• Add the collard greens, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the collards wilt, about 5 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the collards are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the squash, cover and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and toss to coat. Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon juice or hot sauce if using.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic, ginger and a few grinds of pepper; stir until combined.
• Add the collard greens, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the collards wilt, about 5 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the collards are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the squash, cover and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and toss to coat. Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon juice or hot sauce if using.