Roasted Squash | Squash Recipes | Tesco Real Food (2024)

80 ratings

Prepare this stunning centrepiece to impress your vegan guests on Christmas day. Roasting a whole butternut squash, scooping out the sweet flesh and then filling with layers of chargrilled peppers, mushrooms, chestnuts and spinach is really easy to do, and gives impressive results. Serve this vegan Christmas recipe with homemade pesto for an extra flavour kick! See method

  • Serves 6
  • 30 mins to prepare and 1 hr 45 mins to cook
  • 644 calories / serving
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free

Ingredients

  • 1 large butternut squash, about 1.5kg
  • 100g flat-leaf parsley, 2 tbsp finely chopped, the remainder roughly chopped
  • 2 x 285g jars charred roasted peppers in oil, drained well and all oil reserved
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 200g button mushrooms, sliced
  • 180g ready-cooked (vacuum-packed) whole chestnuts
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 8 thyme sprigs
  • 200g spinach leaves
  • ¼ tsp freshly-grated nutmeg

For the pesto

  • 3 garlic bulbs, halved through their middles
  • 1 red chilli, seeded and roughly chopped
  • 100g pecans, lightly toasted

If you don't have any butternut squash, try sweet potato

Each serving contains

  • Energy

    2675kj
    644kcal
    32%
  • Fat

    52g74%
  • Saturates

    7g34%
  • Sugars

    17g18%
  • Salt

    0.9g15%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 38.6gProtein 8.8g Fibre 3.9g

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to gas 5, 190°C, fan 170°C. Halve the butternut squash vertically and scoop out the seeds with a soup spoon or melon baller. Line a roasting tin large enough to hold both squash halves with nonstick baking paper. Put both halves, cut sides down, in the roasting tin and roast for 50 mins, or until just tender.
  2. Leave to cool for 15 mins, then carefully turn the halves over and scoop out the insides along the length of each squash half, leaving an even, 3cm border of squash all around the edge. Be careful not to pierce the skin. Reserve the scooped-out squash and season the hollowed-out halves with salt and pepper.
  3. While the squash halves cook, put 2 tbsp of the oil from the jarred peppers in a large saucepan set over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook gently for 8 mins or so, stirring often, until soft and just starting to colour. Now add the mushrooms and cook for 5 mins until browned and soft, stirring often.
  4. Use a fork or potato masher to break the chestnuts down a little. They should be lightly crushed rather than completely broken down. Add the crushed chestnuts, 2 chopped garlic cloves, paprika and the leaves from 2 thyme sprigs to the pan. Cook through for a minute. Stir in the scooped-out squash, stirring to mix and to break it down evenly. Season well, stir in the finely chopped parsley and remove from the heat.
  5. Separately, wash the spinach and drain well. Transfer to a large saucepan and wilt over a medium heat, stirring often. It should take 2-3 mins for the leaves to collapse. Wring out in a clean tea towel to remove excess moisture then season well with salt, pepper and the nutmeg.
  6. Use the drained, chargrilled peppers to line the hollowed out squash halves in an even, single layer. Divide the mushroom and chestnut mixture between the halves, pressing it down evenly. Evenly spoon the spinach over the filling in one half of the squash. Put the two halves together to make a butternut squash shape and tie together several times along the length of the squash with kitchen string. Return to the roasting tin.
  7. Bake for 20 mins, then add the halved garlic heads to the tin with the remaining thyme sprigs, drizzling them with 1 tbsp oil from the pepper jars. Bake for a further 30-40 mins, until the squash is completely tender and piping hot.
  8. To make the pesto, squeeze out the cloves from one halved garlic bulb and add to the small bowl of a food processor with the red chilli, pecans and the roughly chopped parsley. Blitz together, pausing to scrape down the sides. With the motor running, add the remaining oil reserved from the pepper jars in a steady stream. A rough pesto will form. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  9. Slice the squash thickly, discarding the string, and serve with the pesto on the side and the garlic bulbs to decorate.

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Roasted Squash | Squash Recipes | Tesco Real Food (2024)

FAQs

Why is my roasted squash mushy? ›

Don't overcrowd the pan: When roasting or sautéing butternut squash, make sure that you don't overcrowd the pan. If the pan is too crowded, the squash will steam rather than roast or sauté, which can cause it to become mushy.

Is there a difference between roasting and baking squash? ›

Most recipes say to either bake or roast butternut squash—but what's the difference? While both cooking methods will turn the tough, raw gourd into a soft, sweet ingredient, roasting butternut squash is the more common process for achieving browned, crispy edges and a creamy interior.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? ›

In a large bowl mix the cubed squash, garlic cloves and ginger with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the spice mix. Season with salt and pepper and scatter in a single layer in a roasting tray. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes until tender all the way through.

Should squash be peeled before roasting? ›

You don't have to peel it before roasting. That's right. You do not have to suffer through peeling an entire slippery butternut squash if you're going to roast it. The skin is perfectly safe to eat, and it's hardly noticeable after a nice roast in a hot oven.

When should you not eat squash? ›

How to avoid toxic squash syndrome. Due to the intense and unpleasant bitterness of plants with a high cucurbitacin concentration, you can usually tell when squash is bad. If you take a bite of squash and notice a nasty taste, spit it out and throw it away.

Do you eat the skin on roasted squash? ›

You can eat the skin, so there's no need to peel it. Simply halve it, scoop out the seeds and chop it into chunks, then roast it and add it to a warm winter salad or throw it into curries, stews or soups. You can also roast the seeds and eat them as a snack or sprinkled over a finished dish.

How long do you keep squash in the oven? ›

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the squash on a sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss well. Arrange the squash in one layer and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the squash is tender, turning once with a metal spatula.

Why is my roasted squash dry? ›

Don't skimp on the oil.

Some are super-soft and creamy, sort of like a baked sweet potato, while others are a bit more dry and chalky. To prevent these squash from becoming too dry in the oven, make sure to coat them generously with oil.

How do you know when roasted squash is done? ›

Butternut squash, cut into 1-inch cubes, should be perfectly roasted after about 25 to 35 minutes in an oven heated to 400 degrees F. When it's done, the squash should be lightly browned and easily pierced with a fork.

How to cook butternut squash Paula Deen? ›

directions
  1. In a medium saucepan combine squash, onions, carrots,broth, and salt. Simmer, uncovered, until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.
  2. Puree soup in a blender or food processor with the butter. Whisk cream into soup. Serve in wide, shallow bowls with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

How to roast butternut squash Jamie Oliver? ›

Method. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Wash and dry the whole squash, then place on a baking tray. Pierce once or twice with the tip of a sharp knife, then bake in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until golden and very soft.

Should you roast butternut squash cut side up or down? ›

You can roast the butternut squash cut side down or cut side up, you will get a more caramelized squash when roasted cut side down. Once it cools a bit scoop the flesh out of the squash halves with a spoon.

Can dogs eat squash? ›

If you're looking for a tasty, low-calorie addition to your dog's diet, you're in luck: Dogs can eat squash safely. In fact, this garden staple has many potential benefits when prepared correctly and given in moderation.

Do you wash squash before cooking? ›

Washing: First, start by washing your hands before preparing food. Then wash winter squash before preparing and eating.

How do you fix mushy roasted vegetables? ›

Heat 1 Tbs. of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once oil is warm, add an even layer of roasted veggies to the pan and let them cook for about 5 minutes. Flip the vegetable halfway through cooking.

How do you keep roasted vegetables from getting mushy? ›

The Oven Temp Is Too Low

A low-and-slow cooking technique is excellent for vegetables like carrots, beets or potatoes that you plan to puree into soup. But, they'll turn out soft and soggy instead of crispy and caramelized. The solution: Turn the oven temperature up to 400°F to 425°F.

How do you keep yellow squash from getting mushy? ›

To make sure your squash doesn't get mushy, the key is to lightly blanch it before you freeze it. If you freeze it raw, the texture will be way off when you thaw and cook it.

How do you make roasted vegetables not mushy? ›

Arrange in one layer.

Once the vegetables are properly coated with oil, spread them out evenly across your baking sheet in one layer. If the vegetables are arranged too closely together or are on top of one another, they will steam, making them mushy rather than caramelized.

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