Veggie Spotlight: Butternut Squash

Welcome to the Veggie Spotlight where we feature a new veggie each newsletter to inspire you to try something new. This week is all about butternut squash! If you have more questions about butternut squash after this article, feel free to hit reply or DM me on Instagram.

This time of year, I tend to feel a little uninspired with cooking. Winter vegetables only go so far until I start to crave fresh spring produce like peaches and asparagus that shine on their own without much processing. I also do not love squash that much so it can be extra difficult, but I have a few tricks that I like to use! First understanding what it is about squash that I don't love as much is key to knowing what will work for me when preparing it. For me, its relatively sweet but used often in savory applications. This is the same reason I don't like sweet potatoes that much. I like sweet potatoes mashed with some butter and cinnamon but the moment it is used in a savory dish roasted or in curries, it just does not work for me. Butternut squash, on the other hand is less sweet than a sweet potato so I am okay with it roasted and coated in dried spices like chili, paprika, garlic, etc. But I can only eat squash like this so often until I get tired of it. Roasted squash like this is great as a side dish or on top of a grain bowl or salad. Since it is the end of the season, I am so over roasted butternut squash so I need to think of other ways to use it up. This is where pureed soups and the freezer comes in handy. I like to make roasted butternut squash soup and freeze for a quick weeknight meal. Not feeling a soup? I also will roast and puree the squash and freeze in portions to use for future dishes like sauces or soups.

The Butternut Squash Facts…

 

Butternut squash is part of the Cucurbitaceae family more commonly known as the Gourd family. This family includes plants that produce fruits with hard outer skins like pumpkin, zucchini, and even cucumber. The squash is a light orange color on the outside with a tough outer skin and a smooth deeper orange color in the center.

 

Butternut Squash has a mild sweet almost nutty flavor. When cooked, the squash becomes tender and creamy, making it great for not only roasting, but pureeing into sauces or soups. 

 

Butternut Squash is a very firm vegetable which can be intimidating to work with especially when trying to peel the outer skin off the flesh. I have a great video showing how to breakdown and peel a butternut squash for a visual representation. Another method is to cut the squash in half or quarters and roast open side down until tender and scoop out the flesh once tender to avoid peeling. From here, my favorite ways to use butternut squash is to roast with various seasonings and flavors, add into soups, chili's, stews, puree to make a soup or a sauce. Butternut squash mac and cheese is a fun way to add veggies to a traditional non-veggie dish.

 

When choosing a butternut squash, its sort of hard to go wrong. Look for a squash that feels heavy for its size and has a firm skin with no soft spots.

 

Butternut squash is typically grown in fall and winter. I find butternut squash good to use year round if you wish due to its long storage benefits.

 

Store WHOLE butternut squash on the counter or in a pantry away from onions and apples. DO NOT store squash in the fridge, it is prone to spoiling faster in the fridge and will alter the texture. Whole butternut squash can store for months on the counter. If you have CUT butternut squash store in the fridge in an airtight container. Use cut butternut squash within 7 days of proper storage.

Have some leftover butternut squash that you don't know what to do with after your tired of eating it? Roast and puree the squash and freeze for a later use. The pureed squash is great to use in soups or sauces or honestly anywhere you would use a can of pumpkin puree!

 

Butternut squash contains essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is high in fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Most orange foods are high in vitamin A and C which helps to regulate cell growth to support a healthy body.

The Wholesome Home Cook

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