Delicious Butternut Squash Recipes by Mary Berry
Cooking with butternut squash is easy and brings autumnal flavours to your meals. These Mary Berry recipes are both easy to make and good for you. They use seasonal ingredients and different cooking methods to warm you up on cold evenings.
Butternut squash recipes range from hearty meals to light dishes. Let Mary Berry show you how to enjoy this vegetable’s rich taste and health benefits. Try her Bean and Butternut Wraps for a quick and tasty meal.
We will look at must-try butternut squash recipes. You will find everything from roasted squash to colourful soups. Perfect for any occasion, from dinners with friends to cosy family nights.
Introduction to Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is becoming very popular in our kitchens. It tastes rich and offers many health benefits. This winter squash is pear-shaped, with a tough skin that’s pale yellow to beige. Inside, it has creamy, orange flesh. Getting to know butternut squash opens up many cooking opportunities.
What is Butternut Squash?
Butternut squash is great for both sweet and savoury dishes. Its sweet, nutty taste makes soups, stews, and bakes better. As it grows best in cooler months, it’s key in many seasonal recipes.
Nutritional Benefits of Butternut Squash
Exploring its nutritional benefits shows butternut squash is quite impressive. Here’s what it has:
- Vitamins A and C
- Dietary fibre
- Potassium
- Antioxidants
Butternut squash is great for your health and your taste buds. It helps with digestion, boosts immunity, and makes your skin better. It’s low in calories but packed with nutrients, making it perfect for a balanced diet.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 45 |
Vitamin A | 106% DV |
Vitamin C | 30% DV |
Fibre | 2g |
Potassium | 284mg |
To sum up, knowing about butternut squash can lead to tasty and healthy meals.
Mary Berry’s Signature Butternut Squash Recipes
Mary Berry’s cooking brings simplicity and traditional British tastes together. She loves using fresh, seasonal ingredients. This makes home cooking both easy and delightful. Butternut squash is a favourite in her kitchen. It works well in soups, mains, and desserts. Also, butternut squash is not only tasty but packed with nutrients, making it a kitchen must-have.
An Overview of Mary Berry’s Cooking Style
Mary Berry’s cooking is all about simple elegance. She thinks delicious food doesn’t need to be complex. Her book, Simple Comforts, includes various recipes. These range from hearty butternut squash dishes to fine dining options. She believes in the power of seasonal, comforting food that everyone can enjoy, perfect for any occasion.
Why Choose Butternut Squash for Your Meals?
Butternut squash enhances any meal with its sweet flavour. It fits perfectly in both savoury and sweet recipes. Its rich nutrients make it a great choice for those looking after their health. Butternut squash is versatile, good for sides, soups, and desserts. Mary Berry shows how it can be a star in both simple dinners and grand meals.
Recipe Type | Serving Size | Cooking Techniques |
---|---|---|
Side Dishes | 6-8 Portions | Baking, Roasting |
Soups | 4-6 Portions | Braising, Stir-frying |
Main Courses | 6-8 Portions | Slow-roasting, One-pot |
Desserts | 6-8 Portions | Baking |
Classic Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasting brings out the sweetness in butternut squash. It makes a hearty side dish. To make your meal special, add this squash. Just follow these cooking steps to always get it right.
Ingredients for Perfect Roasted Squash
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
- Water, for roasting tin
Step-by-Step Instructions for Roasting
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan/gas 6).
- Halve the butternut squash and scoop out the seeds.
- Place the squash halves in a roasting tin, cut side up.
- Drizzle olive oil over the squash, seasoning with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Pour a small amount of water into the roasting tin to help create steam.
- Roast the squash for approximately 1 ¼ hours, basting occasionally until tender.
- Allow the roasted squash to cool slightly before serving, either as a side dish or as an ingredient in other recipes.
Mary Berry Butternut Squash Recipes: Soup Delight
Enjoying a creamy butternut squash soup is both comforting and nutritious in cold weather. It starts with choosing the ideal butternut squash. This is the key to a soup that warms the heart and delights the palate with its rich flavours.
How to Prepare a Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
To whip up a cosy bowl of soup, get these ingredients ready: 1.6 kg of butternut squash, one large onion, two big carrots, two sticks of celery, and a 2.5 cm piece of ginger. Then, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 25g of butter in a large pot. Soften the onion, carrots, and celery by sautéing them.
Next, peel and cube the butternut squash. Add it to the pot along with 1.1 to 1.3 litres of stock, whether vegetable or chicken. Simmer the mix until the squash is soft enough.
Then, blend the soup until it’s smooth and season it with salt and pepper. For that perfect creamy texture, an immersion blender works well. Throw in a sprig of fresh rosemary or a teaspoon of dried rosemary for more aroma. Enjoy it hot with some crusty bread. This delightful recipe makes about four servings. Each cup has roughly 110 calories, adding a nutritious touch to any meal.
Tips for Enhancing Flavours
Small changes can raise your butternut squash soup’s flavour. Try adding spices like cumin or cinnamon for complexity. A splash of apple or orange juice adds a sweet contrast to the squash’s natural sugars. For more creaminess, add some crème fraîche or coconut cream just before serving.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to three days, or freeze them for three months. Enjoy this soup again and again. For more cosy soup ideas, check out this link. It has various recipes perfect for autumn evenings.
Butternut Squash in Main Courses
Butternut squash can make everyday meals special. It’s great in many main dishes. Adding it to curries adds a sweet taste that goes well with spices. It’s perfect in butternut squash main courses for both taste and nutrition. In pasta dishes, it’s amazing, matching up with rich sauces for a memorable dish.
Incorporating Butternut Squash into Curries
Curries with butternut squash are a real treat. The squash’s sweetness and the spice work together perfectly. It soaks up the spice flavours, making it perfect for all kinds of curries, from Indian to Thai. Start by frying onions and spices, then add cubed butternut squash and cook till soft. You’ll get a comforting meal that’s also full of nutrients.
Delicious Butternut Squash Pasta Suggestions
If you love pasta, try butternut squash recipes for a new twist. A sage brown butter sauce or Alfredo makes the squash taste even sweeter. Roast the squash until it’s golden, make it into a sauce, and mix with your favourite pasta. Add nuts or cheese on top for extra taste and texture.
Ingredient | Amount |
---|---|
Butternut Squash | ¾ lb. |
Yellow Onion | ½ |
Filo Dough | 4 sheets |
Eggs | 2 |
Heavy Cream | 10 oz. |
Brie | 3 oz. |
Jellied Cranberry Sauce | ½ tsp per tart |
Baking Temperature | 400°F |
Roasting Duration | 25 minutes |
Baking Time for Tarts | 15-20 minutes |
These ideas make hearty meals that showcase butternut squash’s amazing flavours. It’s a key ingredient in delicious main dishes.
Baking with Butternut Squash
Butternut squash makes baking more interesting. It’s good for a variety of sweet dishes. Looking into sweet butternut squash recipes, butternut squash muffins and bread are favourites. They add unique tastes and textures, great for breakfast or a snack.
Sweet Treats: Butternut Squash Muffins
Butternut squash muffins are a tasty way to eat this healthy veggie. Mix pureed squash with ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, and spices. You get a moist, flavourful snack. The squash’s sweetness, with cinnamon and nutmeg, makes the muffins special. Here’s a quick look at their nutritional content:
Nutritional Information | Per Serving |
---|---|
Calories | 233 |
Total Fat | 10g |
Saturated Fat | 1g |
Cholesterol | 37mg |
Sodium | 232mg |
Potassium | 142mg |
Total Carbohydrates | 34g |
Dietary Fiber | 1g |
Sugars | 17g |
Protein | 3g |
Making Butternut Squash Bread: A Step-by-Step Guide
Butternut squash bread is another great way to use this veggie. Start with mixing pureed squash with sugar, flour, and baking soda. This mix creates a dense, flavourful loaf. You can add nuts or dried fruits to mix it up. Below is the nutritional info for this bread:
Nutritional Information | Per Serving |
---|---|
Calories | 150 |
Total Fat | 7g |
Carbohydrates | 20g |
Protein | 2g |
Fiber | 5g |
Sugar | 7g |
Conclusion
Mary Berry’s cooking ideas with butternut squash are both easy and nutritious, making them perfect for any event. They range from simple roasted dishes to lovely soups and sweet baked treats. With basic ingredients like a big butternut squash, an onion, and garlic, making these dishes is enjoyable.
Mary Berry inspires cooks of every skill level to be creative in the kitchen with her butternut squash recipes. Whether it’s a smooth butternut squash soup or a unique main dish, there’s plenty of inspiration. You can tailor these recipes with various spices or veggies, making cooking a fun adventure.
See these mary berry recipes as a great place to start your kitchen journey. Relish the mix of flavours and the joy of making each dish. Butternut squash offers endless tasty options. Seize the chance to wow your loved ones with dishes that are bound to be new favourites.
FAQ
What is butternut squash used for in cooking?
Butternut squash is a key ingredient in many dishes. You can find it in soups, curries, pasta, and baked treats. Its sweet and nutty taste works well in both savoury and sweet recipes, loved by many for seasonal meals.
How do you store leftover butternut squash?
To store leftover butternut squash, put it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Or, freeze cooked squash for up to three months. Just be sure to cool it fully before you seal and store it, to keep its taste and texture.
Can butternut squash be eaten raw?
Yes, you can eat butternut squash raw. Many enjoy its crunchy texture when grated in salads or slaws. Though it’s usually cooked to bring out its sweetness, adding it raw adds a nice crunch.
What are some tips for selecting a good butternut squash?
For a good butternut squash, pick one that feels firm and heavy. It should have a smooth, matte finish. Steer clear of any with soft spots or blemishes; they might be going bad.
How long does it take to roast butternut squash?
To roast butternut squash, it usually takes about 1 ¼ hours at 200°C (180°C fan/gas 6). Remember to baste it now and then. Always check for tenderness before serving.
What seasonings complement butternut squash?
A range of seasonings go well with butternut squash. Try salt, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, or herbs like rosemary or sage. These enhance its natural sweetness, making your dish more flavourful.
Are there any health benefits to eating butternut squash?
Butternut squash is full of health benefits. It’s packed with vitamins A and C, fibre, potassium, and antioxidants. Plus, it’s low in calories but nutrient-dense, which is great for your diet.