Roasted Butternut Squash (Maple Butternut Squash) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Should I peel my butternut squash before roasting? ›

For butternut squash soups and stews, it is generally best to remove the skin. If you want to keep the skin on your roasted butternut squash, you may do so – just know that the texture may be less than desirable.

If your oven is set at a temperature that is too low, you'll end up with uncooked or mushy roasted squash. Don't be afraid to turn up the heat!

You can eat the skin, so there's no need to peel it. Simply halve it, scoop out the seeds and chop it into chunks, then roast it and add it to a warm winter salad or throw it into curries, stews or soups. You can also roast the seeds and eat them as a snack or sprinkled over a finished dish.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Halve the squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and drizzle with EVOO. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and fresh nutmeg and roast until just tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.

Drizzle the exposed sides with olive oil and salt, then place them, exposed sides down, in a lined oven tray and roast for 45 – 50 minutes at 210C/400F fan until super soft and you can easily pierce it with a knife. It should be buttery soft, smooth and easily scoopable with a spoon.

Method. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Wash and dry the whole squash, then place on a baking tray. Pierce once or twice with the tip of a sharp knife, then bake in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until golden and very soft.

Food Safety and Storage

Scrub winter squash with a vegetable brush under cool running water before cooking or cutting.

And the good news is that you don't even have to cut into a butternut squash to tell if it's ready to eat or not. You can tell if your butternut squash is ripe by the color and texture of the outer rind. If there are any green spots, it's definitely not ready to cook.

Method. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Pierce the skin of the squash all over with a knife, then transfer to a baking tray and roast for 45 mins-1 hr until tender. Set aside to cool for 10-15 mins.

The liquid is so strong that it can harden into protective scab if the squash becomes cut or damaged—much like a tree. This sap has the same effect on skin, it creates a tough film that can feel stiff, or even itchy.

Is frozen butternut squash as good as fresh? ›

If you thought frozen butternut squash was only good for a pot of boiling water, think again. Frozen butternut squash is a little chef secret that has flown under the radar but, just like frozen peas, it tastes just as good as fresh, can be used in almost the exact same way, and eliminates all prep work.

Butternut squash, or winter squash, is harvested in the fall but it keeps well for several months. It is a good source of fiber, potassium, and several other key nutrients. The nutritional content of squash makes it beneficial for digestion, blood pressure, and for healthy skin and hair, among others.

Examples of hard-skinned squash that should not be eaten raw include: pumpkins, delicate, butternut, Hubbard, and acorn. It's important to note that while gourds are in the same family as squash, most are grown for decorative purposes and are not edible.

You don't have to peel the squash but it's recommended. It mostly depends on how you'll be consuming it. If you're going to roast the whole squash, I don't find it necessary. The skin becomes easily digestible after roasting, and it's easy to scoop out if you don't want it.

Method. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Wash and dry the whole squash, then place on a baking tray. Pierce once or twice with the tip of a sharp knife, then bake in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until golden and very soft.

Halve butternut squash lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Place cut sides up in a roasting pan (to help it sit level, slice a thin strip from skin sides). Fill each cavity with butter and pure maple syrup; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Roast until fork-tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.