Oven roasted squash is an easy to prepare side dish. Winter squash, such as butternut and acorn varieties, are excellent sources of vitamin A and C. Baked squash is a hearty comfort food that tastes great on a cold winter day. This recipe for oven roasted butternut squash makes approximately 4 servings.
Baked Winter Squash Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon salt
Baked Winter Squash Directions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the squash on a cutting board, and use a large, sharp knife to carefully cut it in half.
- Scoop out and discard the seeds, and remove any stringy bits of squash flesh.
- Place the squash halves in a large baking pan.
- Rub each squash half with the olive oil.
- Evenly sprinkle the cumin, coriander and salt on the top of each squash half.
- Pour approximately 1/2 inch water inside the baking pan, being careful not to splash any on top of the squash.
- Place the baking pan in the oven, and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the squash is fork tender.
- Remove the pan from the oven.
- Carefully scoop the cooked squash into a large serving bowl.
- Mash the cooked squash with the back of a large fork, or potato masher until smooth.
- Serve immediately.
- Leftover baked squash can be stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for a day or two.
Recipe Tips and Suggestions
- Although this recipe calls for butternut squash, any hard winter squash, such as acorn or even pumpkin may be used.
- Canola, or any other type of vegetable oil may be used in place of the olive oil, if desired.
- If desired, add a few pats of butter or margarine to the bowl of cooked squash prior to serving.
- Additional salt, cumin and coriander can be served along with the cooked squash. Spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice can also be used to flavor the squash.
- For a sweeter version of baked squash, serve it along with a bit of brown sugar, maple syrup or honey.
- Add a sprinkling of chopped, toasted pecans, on top of the platter of baked squash, prior to serving.
Additional Vegetable Recipes
Caramelized brussels sprouts are pan fried with garlic, bell pepper spicy red pepper flakes. Honey glazed onion bake is a recipe for a side dish featuring cipollini onions, honey, butter, sage and vegetable broth. Green beans almandine features fresh green beans steamed with broth, garlic and shallots and garnished with slivered almonds.
Lynn Smythe - ABOUT THE WRITER Born and raised in Rochester, New York, freelance writer Lynn Smythe obtained her bachelor's degree in Geology from ...
