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

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.

Do you need to peel squash before roasting? ›

Learn how to roast butternut squash the EASY WAY without any prep work. No pre-peeling, chopping or deseeding (yes really!). Just whole-roast it in the oven until soft and tender.

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.

Why is my roasted butternut squash soggy? ›

There could be a few reasons why your roasted butternut squash is turning out soggy: Overcrowding: If you overcrowd the baking sheet with butternut squash pieces, they will release more moisture and steam, making it difficult for them to roast properly.

How to roast butternut squash Jamie Oliver? ›

For a basic butternut squash recipe, halve the squash, scoop out the seeds and chop into chunks. You don't have to remove the skin — it will go soft and sweet as the squash cooks — just make sure you wash it well before cooking. Roast at 180°C for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden and soft.

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.

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? ›

Begin checking around 20 minutes, rotating the pan (if you feel like it). Once it's passed the fork test (or is cooked to your liking), you can take the squash out of the oven and let it cool until it's easy to handle. Then, scoop the flesh out of the skin and do what you will with it!

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 cook squash cut side down? ›

Especially when roasted this way, because it bakes cut side down, so the flesh of the squash is caramelizing against your baking sheet for about an hour, getting toasty and nutty and sweet and perfect. And the fun thing about this squash is that it comes in its own pretty little serving dish.

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

Cooking butternut squash halves
  1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Cut off ¼" from the top and bottom of the butternut squash. ...
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the butternut squash halves cut side down. Bake for 50-60minute or until tender.
Oct 23, 2021

Why do my fingers feel weird after cutting butternut squash? ›

Raw butternut squash can cause some people to develop an allergic skin reaction called “squash hands.” Wearing gloves while handling the fruit or purchasing prepared butternut squash can help you prevent this skin reaction. A 1% hydrocortisone cream can help alleviate squash hands symptoms.

Can you reheat roasted squash? ›

Store leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. To Reheat. Reheat gently over low heat in a skillet on the stovetop, in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave until warmed through. The oven and stovetop will give you the best consistency.

How to cook butternut squash Martha Stewart? ›

Halve butternut squash lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Place cut sides up in a roasting pan (to help it sit level, slice a thin strip from skin sides). Fill each cavity with butter and pure maple syrup; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Roast until fork-tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Is it better to steam or boil butternut squash? ›

The squash also retains most of its nutrients when it is steamed and has a wonderfully sweet butternuttiness to it. Steamed butternut can also be used in a variety of ways – added to salads, mashed, puréed or enjoyed as is with a simple seasoning of your choice.

Is it necessary to peel butternut squash before cooking? ›

It's important to note that while many people choose to remove butternut squash skin (and this is best practice for soup making, where you want smooth results), you can 100% eat roasted butternut squash skin. Slice butternut squash into crescents and roast it with the skin on.

How do you prepare butternut squash for eating? ›

Cut each half into 1-inch-thick slices, then cut in the other direction to make 1-inch cubes. On a parchment-lined sheet pan or in a baking dish, toss cubes with olive oil and salt until coated. Arrange in a single layer. Roast until squash is tender, browned, and easily pierced with a fork, about 45-55 minutes.

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