Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple and Elegant: With just a few ingredients and minimal effort, you can create a velvety smooth purée that looks and tastes like a gourmet dish.
- Versatile: Perfect as a side dish to complement your main courses, it can also be used as a base or decorative element for elegant plating.
- Rich, Deep Flavor: Roasting the butternut squash brings out its natural sugars, resulting in a rich, caramelized flavor that pairs wonderfully with just a touch of seasoning.
- Customizable: You can adjust the seasoning to suit your taste or add other spices and herbs to make it your own.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- 1 large butternut squash, halved and seeded
- 480ml (2 cups) chicken or vegetable broth, warmed
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Place the squash halves flesh-side up on a baking sheet and roast for 45–60 minutes, or until deeply browned and tender.
- Once the squash is roasted, let it cool slightly before scooping the flesh into a food processor.
- Begin blending the squash, slowly adding the warmed broth, 60ml (1/4 cup) at a time, until the purée reaches a silky consistency.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then blend again briefly.
- Optional: For an extra smooth texture, strain the purée through a fine mesh sieve.
- Serve the purée warm as a side dish or base for your main course.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: 4
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 1 hour
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store any leftover butternut squash purée in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a little extra broth if the purée becomes too thick while reheating.
FAQs
1. Can I use a different type of squash for this recipe?
Yes, you can use other types of squash such as acorn or pumpkin, though the flavor may vary slightly.
2. Can I make this butternut squash purée ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the purée ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Just reheat before serving.
3. Is this recipe suitable for vegans?
Yes, this recipe is naturally vegan if you use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
4. Can I use store-bought broth, or should I make my own?
You can use store-bought broth, but homemade broth will provide a richer, more flavorful base for the purée.
5. Do I have to strain the purée?
Straining the purée is optional, but it will give you a smoother, more refined texture, especially if you plan to plate the purée for an elegant dish.
6. Can I freeze this butternut squash purée?
Yes, you can freeze the purée in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
7. What can I serve this purée with?
This purée pairs wonderfully with roasted meats, such as turkey, chicken . It can also be used as a base for a variety of dishes, including risotto or as a topping for pasta.
8. How do I know when the squash is properly roasted?
The squash should be deeply browned and tender when pierced with a fork. The flesh should easily scoop out of the skin.
9. Can I use a blender instead of a food processor for the purée?
Yes, a blender works fine as well. Just be sure to blend until you achieve a smooth and silky consistency.
10. Can I add other spices to the purée?
Absolutely! Feel free to add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, or garlic to elevate the flavor profile of the purée.
Conclusion
This Butternut Squash Puree is a perfect combination of simplicity and sophistication. Roasting the squash brings out its natural sweetness, and blending it into a silky smooth purée creates a side dish that is both comforting and elegant. Whether served on its own or as part of a more elaborate meal, this purée is sure to impress with its rich flavor and velvety texture.
Butternut Squash Puree Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Roasting & Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Butternut Squash Puree is the epitome of comfort and elegance in one simple dish. Roasting the squash brings out its natural sweetness and depth of flavor, and the silky smooth texture makes it an ideal side dish, a base for other dishes, or even a sophisticated plating element.
Ingredients
1 large butternut squash, halved and seeded
480ml (2 cups) chicken or vegetable broth, warmed
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Place the squash halves flesh-side up on a baking sheet and roast for 45–60 minutes, or until deeply browned and tender.
- Once the squash is roasted, let it cool slightly before scooping the flesh into a food processor.
- Begin blending the squash, slowly adding the warmed broth, 60ml (1/4 cup) at a time, until the purée reaches a silky consistency.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then blend again briefly.
- Optional: For an extra smooth texture, strain the purée through a fine mesh sieve.
- Serve the purée warm as a side dish or base for your main course.
Notes
Straining the purée is optional but will result in a smoother, more refined texture.
This purée can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For a vegan option, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
You can freeze the purée for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, or garlic to enhance the flavor profile.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
