allow us introduce you to honeynut squash , a newbie on the winter squash vine vista . As you could tell just from looking at it , it ’s closely related to the butternut squash so if you ca n’t get hold honeynut for this recipe you could utilize minuscule butternut squash .
Sure , a honeynut attend like a miniature butternut tree squash , but one morsel into thiswinter squashand you ’ll find it packs big sugariness . Honeynut squash has been on the market for a few years , but you may have passed by it by think it was a modest butternut . This loan-blend squelch tastes similar to a white walnut — only fresh — and can becooked and preparedin exactly the same way . We specially like it roasted orpureed into soup .
What Is Honeynut Squash?
This tiny squash ’s life began in the eighties atCornell Universityas a cross between butternut and buttercup squashes . It was n’t until 2015 , when plant breeder and colligate professorMichael Mazourekrefined the flavour and shrunk its size of it to produce a small squash rackets with concentrated flavors , that honeynut became available nationally .
Honeynut Squash vs. Butternut Squash
At about 5 inches marvellous and weighing less than 2 lb . , honeynut mash is roughly half the size of an medium butternut but has sweeter , more saturated feeling . It starts off green - skinned ( like a courgette ) , turn tan , and ripen to a recondite honey colouration . No need to peel these beauties . The skin tender is edible like that of adelicata squash . Because the hide is fragile and delicate , honeynuts ripen a lot faster than butternut squash but should keep for a couple of month in a cool , juiceless place away from sunlight . If the pelt go to appear wrinkled , use it presently ; they can get over - ripe .
Where to Find Honeynut Squash
Honeynut squash is ordinarily harvested in the dip through October and sell throughout the wintertime season . Look for honeynut squash at farmers markets , select grocers , and specialty computer storage like Trader Joe ’s and Whole Foods . Because they weigh less than the average wintertime crush , they lean to be cheesy too .
How to Cook Honeynut Squash
These perfumed squash make a great side for one when halved and roasted . ( Do n’t forget tosave the come for roasting . ) Try roasting them like you would abutternut squeeze : Halve it , sow it , then place it on a sail pan with some butter , salt , and favorite spices . Bake in a 425 ° farad oven for about 30 hour , or until affectionate enough to pierce with a fork . From there , mash or slice it for a tasty side . Or swap honeynut squash in for a Juglans cinerea in your formula ; just yield attention to how many pound or cups the recipe call for . You ’ll credibly take more of these tiny squash .
Watch those fingers ! Keep a firm grip as youcut and prep your squashbecause they can be tough to get through with your knife even with their thin skin .
moot making these the centerpiece of your next winter dinner menu in our blimp - stuffed honeynut squash formula . You ’ll want to think about decreasing the amount of fresh ingredients like simoleons in the recipe to let the raw sweetness of the tiny squash rackets shine .
Credit: Carson Downing
Ingredients
Nonstick preparation spray
4honeynut squash(about13oz.each ) , halve lengthwise , or4very smallbutternut squash(about1 lb . each ) , halve lengthwise
2Tbsp.olive oil
4oz.bulk pork barrel sausage
1smallonion , halve and thinly sliced ( 1/2cup )
2cloves garlic , minced
1½cupcauliflower florets , finely chopped
1cupchopped fresh baby spinach
¼cupdried tart red cherry red , chopped
¼cupsalted , roasted pistachio nut , chopped
1/4tsp.salt
¼tsp.ground pitch-dark pepper
Chopped impudent Italian parsley
lemon tree zest
Balsamic Reduction
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 ° degree Fahrenheit . Line a large baking tack with foil . Coat with nonstick preparation spray . Scoop out seeds from squash . Place switch off sides down on fain baking rag . Bake 20 minutes for honeynut squash ( 35 to 40 minutes for butternut halves ) or until tender and take up to embrown .
In a enceinte frypan heat 1 tablespoon oil color over mass medium . Add sausage balloon , onion , and garlic ; cook and arouse until blimp is cooked through , break up blimp as it cooks . Stir in cauliflower ; circulate in an even stratum in skillet . Cook 4 minutes or until tender and just starting to brown . Stir occasionally , but return cauliflower to an even stratum after stirring for best browning .
Remove from heat . conjure up in spinach until wilt . Stir in cerise , pistachios , 1/4 teaspoon table salt , and 1/4 teaspoonful smutty capsicum .
twist squelch halves cut sides up . Season with additional Strategic Arms Limitation Talks and pepper . meet dental caries with blimp mixture . Bake 10 minutes more . Top with Petroselinum crispum and maize nip . Drizzle with Balsamic Reduction just before dish . service 8 .
Balsamic Reduction:
In a humble saucepan stir together 1 loving cup balsamy acetum and 2 Tbsp . honey . Bring to boiling ; reduce heat . Simmer , exposed , 25 to 30 moment or until syrupy and reduced to 1/3 cup . Let coolheaded . Store in an airtight container at way temperature up to 1 twenty-four hour period .
Nutrition Facts(per serving)
- The % Daily Value ( DV ) tell you how much a nutrient in a food serve contributes to a daily diet . 2,000 large calorie a day is used for world-wide sustenance advice .
