Butternut Squash
Photo credit: Thadah Wah
This classic winter squash has bright orange flesh and a sweet flavor. In our climate, these squashes are often harvested in late July or early August and then cured in the greenhouse for a few weeks. Butternut squash sweetens with time and can usually store for a couple of months – if not longer.
STORAGE: Like most storage crops, butternut squash should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Alternatively, you can cut it up and freeze it for up to a year. Unlike some winter squashes, butternut squash must be peeled.
RECIPE: Coconut Curried Kale and Butternut Squash from America's Test Kitchen's The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and sliced into ½-inch cubes
- 5 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
- 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
- 1 heaping teaspoon curry powder (or more if you prefer)
- 2 large bunches of kale (about 2 pounds), stemmed and chopped
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ⅓ cup pepitas (green pumpkin seeds)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional), to taste
- 1 1/2 cups jasmine or basmati rice
Method:
- Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add sweet potato or squash, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potato is bright orange (or until the butternut is just beginning to brown), about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a bowl for now.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot and raise the heat to medium-high. Add garlic, ginger and curry powder and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add half of the kale and stir until it’s beginning to wilt, about 1 minute. Stir in remaining greens, broth, all but ½ cup coconut milk and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Cover pot, reduce heat to medium low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is wilted, about 12 to 15 minutes. Pour in sweet potato or squash mixture, cover and continue to cook until kale and sweet potato or squash are tender, 10 to 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toast the pepitas in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until they’re fragrant and making little popping noises, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
- Once the kale and sweet potato/squash are tender, uncover the pot and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and sauce has thickened, 2 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the remaining coconut milk. Add the lime juice and season with salt, pepper and optional red pepper flakes, to taste. Divide rice into bowls, then top with kale mixture and a generous sprinkling of pepitas before serving.
MORE RECIPES:
One Skillet Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Kale and Italian Sausage
Cauliflower and Butternut Thai Curry
