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Photo by Nina Stout
Butternut squash is a great side dish for any fall or winter meal, and especially so at Thanksgiving.
This squash can be found at nearly any grocery store in its whole form. Many people like to buy it already cubed because it is easier to work with that way, but it's not always available. Also, it's less expensive to buy the butternut squash whole. Don't worry...below you will find directions for how to make this sweet and hearty winter squash the easy way.
According to Ayurvedic medicine, butternut squash is considered a winter warming food which means it helps to maintain health over the long, cold, dry winter. Sweet veggies such as yams, sweet potatoes, cooked carrots and squash open up and nourish the tissues. This helps lessen the body's natural inclination to combat dryness by overproducing mucus.
How to make butternut squash
The good news it there is no peeling involved, but it is very important to have a good sharp knife for cutting the squash in half length-wise.
- preheat oven to 400 degrees
- wash squash, dry it, and place on a cutting board
- cut the very top off so as to remove the stem and create a flat surface
- with a cutting board underneath the squash, slice it in half from the top to bottom
- scoop out the seeds
- add water to baking pan so that there is about 1/2-1 inch of water in it
- place both halves 'face' down into the water in the baking pan
- bake for about 45 minutes or until a knife pierces through the squash easily
- remove from oven and use tongs to turn squash over, let cool a few minutes
- scoop the 'flesh' of the squash from the skin and into a bowl
- if desired, add butter, salt, maple syrup and cinnamon to taste
Whatever you don't eat, save for left overs as it reheats very nicely.
Butternut squash is a great side for Thanksgiving dinner. It also goes along excellently with game dishes such as venison, joined by a side of bitter, leafy greens such as broccoli rabe.
For more info: Learn more about butternut squash, or find out about the 5,000 year old tradition of Ayurveda. For other Thanksgiving side ideas try Sunset Magazines 22 classic Thanksgiving side dishes....the cornbread and gorgonzola dressing looks like a hit!!
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