Bengali Butternut Squash Recipes

Steps:

• Halve 1 large unpeeled butternut squash (about 3 pounds) and cut into thick wedges, discarding the seeds. Toss with olive oil and roast at 400 degrees F until soft, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove the skin. Puree the squash with 3 tablespoons butter; season with salt. Warm a few tablespoons of maple syrup with a pinch of cayenne pepper; drizzle over the mash.
• Use a food processor or immersion blender to puree these veggies-they're too fibrous for a potato masher.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add bay leaf, panch phoran and chillies and fry for 1-2 minutes, stirring well to combine.
• Add the onion, stir to coat in the spices, and fry for 4 minutes, or until softened and golden-brown.
• Add the ground turmeric, cumin and coriander, the salt, sugar and ginger and stir well. Add a 1/2 of water, stir and cook for a further 1-2 minutes.
• Add the butternut squash pieces and 1/2 - 1 cup boiling water. Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan with a lid and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the butternut squash is tender.
• Add the chickpeas, ground garam masala and fennel seeds and another splash of water if necessary to keep the mixture loose. Add more salt and sugar, if you like, to taste. Stir well and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
• Cut the kabocha or butternut squashes into long wedges (I sliced the upper part of the butternut squash and halved the slices) and remove the peel, seeds and fibres from each piece.
• Heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion wedges, garlic, chilli and ginger to the pan and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onions are just tender.
• Add the spices and cook for a few seconds more.
• Add the pieces of butternut squash and toss everything together until well coated in the spicy mixture.
• Put the squash into a roasting tin and roast it for 35-40 minutes, or until the squash is tender and lightly browned around the edges.
• This is delicious served together with roasted chicken and mint raita, made from chopped fresh mint into natural yogurt.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Toss butternut squash with olive oil and garlic in a large bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Arrange coated squash on a baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until squash is tender and lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes.