Description
Ina Garten’s mashed butternut squash brings rustic elegance to autumn dinner tables. Creamy, smooth, and infused with sage and brown butter, this side dish offers comfort and warmth while highlighting seasonal ingredients you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 large butternut squash (about 3 to 4 pounds / 1.4 to 1.8 kilograms)
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) almond milk or milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 grams) ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.625 grams) cayenne pepper
Garnish and Optional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the rack in the middle of the oven for even cooking.
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil to prevent sticking and simplify cleanup.
- Thoroughly rinse the squash under cool water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Using a sharp chef’s knife, carefully slice the squash in half lengthwise, creating two equal portions.
- Remove the seeds and stringy pulp from the center of each squash half using a spoon, creating a clean cavity.
- Place the squash halves with the cut side facing upward on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drizzle of olive oil evenly over the cut surfaces of the squash.
- Gently brush the maple syrup across the oiled surfaces to create a light, sweet glaze.
- Sprinkle kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper across the squash halves to enhance natural flavors.
- Roast in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the flesh becomes fork-tender and easily pierced.
- Remove from the oven and allow the squash to cool for 10-15 minutes to make handling easier.
- Scoop the soft, roasted flesh into a mixing bowl using a large spoon.
- Mash the squash thoroughly with a potato masher or fork, creating either a smooth puree or leaving some texture as desired.
- Taste the mashed squash and adjust seasonings with additional salt, pepper, or maple syrup as needed.
Notes
- Roasting transforms butternut squash into a caramelized, sweet delicacy with minimal kitchen effort.
- Skin-on cooking preserves nutrients and creates a delightful textural contrast during the roasting process.
- Washing removes surface dirt and potential contaminants, ensuring a clean and safe ingredient.
- Selecting a high-quality squash means checking for smooth, deep-colored skin without soft spots or blemishes.
- Weight matters when choosing your squash – heavier specimens indicate more moisture and better flavor potential.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 2 mg