Sunday, January 20, 2013

Delicious and (Healthy!) Mashed Butternut Squash


This butternut squash recipe is healthy and super easy! Butternut squash is full of many nutrients including vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber. Plus, my five-year-old son just saw the picture below and said, "that is one giant peanut!" Bahahaha!

 Ingredients:

1/3 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1/3 Cup Half & Half
1/2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Sea Salt
1/2 Tsp Coarse Ground Pepper
1/2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Allspice
1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Tsp Paprika
1/4 Cup Diced Green Onions (see my tutorial for growing green onions on your windowsill)
1/2 Diced White or Yellow Onion
3 or 4 Minced Garlic Cloves
AND, 1 Butternut Squash!!!

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce butternut squash all over with a fork or knife. Bake whole squash in a pan or casserole dish for approximately an hour, until it's soft (test it by piercing it again with fork or knife). Let it cool to room temperature, then peel butternut squash, remove seeds and stringy fibers, until you are left with just the cooked butternut squash.

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat a tablespoon of oil or butter in a pan and saute the garlic, green onions, and white or yellow onions. Add seasonings, and saute until onions are soft and translucent.
Now, put the squash puree, onion mixture, and half & half and yogurt in a mixing bowl. This is the fun part! And you are almost done!!
 Using an immersion blender, puree the squash till smooth and creamy (you can also use another method like a food processor). Taste-test the mixture. Add more seasoning if needed.
 Spread the mixture into a casserole dish (I used the same one I baked the squash in).
 Place in oven and bake until the top starts to turn brown (about 30-45 minutes).

Serve and enjoy! This is a very healthy and nutritious alternative to mashed potatoes. I served mine with pork pot roast and salad. And the next day it went beautifully with this delicious soup.

No comments:

Post a Comment