Winter Squash Braised in Cider Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Andy

I think butternuts can be very easy to peel, since they don't have pumpkin-esque ridges like many other gourds. Here's what I do:1. Using a sharp chef's knife, slice off the very top (stem) and very bottom (opposite of stem).2. Cut the squash in half at its "waist." You now have a skinny top part and a round bottom part.(to be continued...)

jsilberlicht

Delicate need not be peeled!

Dan C.

Just made this. I was a bit apprehensive seeing how much rosemary was in the dish, but it gets mellowed out over the course of braising and takes on a nutty character. The dish is quite sweet; I added a little extra butter and a few tablespoons of water, in addition to the vinegar and salt, at the end and that seemed to help. Perhaps I reduced the sauce too much? Still a very tasty dish. 4/5.

PEllen

First, a quibble. The instructions say to peel the squash but the photo shows unpeeled delicata. Pretty, but wrong.

A very similar recipe was Financial Times maybe 25 years ago from Phillipa Davenport using only balsamic vinegar and tossed with mint.

Yes, Hard ( and leftover) cider can be used but use one on the apple-ier ones. Stick with Strongbow, one of the Woodchucks or something labeled seasonal cider which tend to be sweeter;look for a lower ABV number, too.

beaconps

Request more info on rosemary. Must it be fresh? Can a sprig be used and discarded before serving? I once ruined some fried potatoes with dried rosemary. A guest called the dish "potatoes and sticks"

SMH

The recipe says it takes 15 minutes. Instructions say to simmer for 40 minutes.

Monica

Are we supposed to cover the pan while simmering?

Sheila Pulver

I'm sure rosemary would have been delicious, but I didn't have any fresh rosemary so I subsistuted fresh sage since it's also aromatic and goes well with squash. I didn't peel the delicata and served it over polenta--tasty.

Hally

I just set out to make this quickly after seeing the 15 minute time, only to find out that the squash needs to cook for 40 minutes and then to find that others have written about this misprint a year ago. It would be great if you could fix the mistake and save others from feeding their kids a lot later than they had anticipated! Thank you!

Yvonne

This turned out really well, but a couple of comments. The time listed, 10 minutes, is clearly a mistake since it refers to nothing in the recipe. It took me somewhat over an hour, start to finish. The amount of squash called for did not fit in my 12" skillet. I used two pans instead.

Laura

I used two delicata squash, about 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Did not have cider so substituted orange juice with a squeeze of lemon juice. I used half as much liquid as the recipe stated and simmered, covered for only 15 minutes. The squash was nice and tender! Reduced this and finished with a splash of apple cider vinegar. It was yummy. Next time I’ll add rosemary, which sadly I did not have I hand.

Melissa

Interesting and delicious side dish. I prefer roasted delicata, but this was a nice change. I didn’t have rosemary (and don’t care for it), so I subbed a mix of thyme and tarragon (dried so I used about a teaspoon on thyme and a half teaspoon tarragon) and it was delicious. I was cooking for lactose intolerant people so I also used olive oil rather than butter. Everyone enjoyed it and it paired well with thanksgiving dinner. As others noted, there’s no need to peel delicata.

Nancy Pemberton

Time is not 15 minutes, as it says at the top of the recipe. It’s 60 minutes since you have o cook the squash 30-40 minutes. Bad mistake.

Maria Cate

In the US apple cider is non-alcoholic. The other kind we call hard cider.

notes

Use thyme instead of rosemary

Carolyn

Delicious!! Added an extra teaspoon of apple cider vinegar at the end. Great sweet and sour combo

LG

Use hard cider

Vitruvius

Less time for the Delecata. More for reduction. No peeling!

sarah m

This was more like an hour from start to finish rather than 15 mins. It was entirely fantastic!

Andrew

This generally worked very well. The one surprise in my case was that the cider mixture took much longer to cook down to a glaze than the 5-10 minutes indicated in the instructions, so plan for a little extra time on that step depending on how much cider liquid you have after removing the squash.

Hard cider or apple juice?

The distinction is never clear to me when the recipe is from the US.

Maria Cate

In the US apple cider is non-alcoholic. The other kind we call hard cider.

Hally

I just set out to make this quickly after seeing the 15 minute time, only to find out that the squash needs to cook for 40 minutes and then to find that others have written about this misprint a year ago. It would be great if you could fix the mistake and save others from feeding their kids a lot later than they had anticipated! Thank you!

Nancy Pemberton

Time is not 15 minutes, as it says at the top of the recipe. It’s 60 minutes since you have o cook the squash 30-40 minutes. Bad mistake.

erock

Used delicata and sage, came out perfect. Was a good use of some leftover herbs, squash and cider!

yalerc

Great recipe but cook time of squash and for glazing at end took far longer than recipe suggests. From chopping squash to putting on table, took a solid 45 mins if not a bit longer

aks

11/26/2020 Really good. Used with the newly engineered Honeynut Squash. The strong rosemary presence plus the vinegar make it a good contrast to the sweetness of Thanksgiving foods. Although, to be clear, this is very much a sweet dish.

Melissa

Interesting and delicious side dish. I prefer roasted delicata, but this was a nice change. I didn’t have rosemary (and don’t care for it), so I subbed a mix of thyme and tarragon (dried so I used about a teaspoon on thyme and a half teaspoon tarragon) and it was delicious. I was cooking for lactose intolerant people so I also used olive oil rather than butter. Everyone enjoyed it and it paired well with thanksgiving dinner. As others noted, there’s no need to peel delicata.

Laura

I used two delicata squash, about 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Did not have cider so substituted orange juice with a squeeze of lemon juice. I used half as much liquid as the recipe stated and simmered, covered for only 15 minutes. The squash was nice and tender! Reduced this and finished with a splash of apple cider vinegar. It was yummy. Next time I’ll add rosemary, which sadly I did not have I hand.

SMH

The recipe says it takes 15 minutes. Instructions say to simmer for 40 minutes.

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Winter Squash Braised in Cider Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a squash and a butternut squash? ›

Winter squash, such as butternut, spaghetti, acorn or pumpkins, have hard, thick skins, sweet, dense flesh and mature seeds, making them ideal for roasting, mashing or soups. Summer squash, like courgettes and patty pan, have tender, edible skins, edible flowers and a milder-flavoured flesh.

What has to be done to a winter squash before cooking? ›

Cooking Whole

Cut the squash in half, clean out the seeds with a spoon and place cut-side down on an oiled sheet pan or lasagna dish. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the pan and bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until you can easily poke through the squash with a fork.

What is the difference between kabocha and Kuri? ›

Kabocha can be dark green with mottled blue-gray striping, or a deep red-orange color that resembles Red Kuri. You can tell the difference between red Kabocha and Red Kuri by their shape: Kabocha is round but flattened at stem end, instead of pointed. The flesh is smooth, dense, and intensely yellow.

What is the healthiest squash to eat? ›

Butternut Squash: is packed with vitamin C and beta carotene, both of which act as antioxidants in the body and protect the cells from damage. Spaghetti Squash: also makes an excellent alternative to pasta due to its spaghetti-like strands.

Which tastes better butternut or acorn squash? ›

Acorn squash is milder in taste and slightly more fibrous in texture than butternut squash: Its sweet, nutty flavor is additionally muted by the watery character of its flesh. Still, most recipes that call for acorn squash can be made with another members of the squash family, such as Hubbard or butternut.

Do you peel winter squash before cooking? ›

Some squash skin is edible, while other types of squash have tough skin that can be removed before cooking. Remove the skin of butternut, hubbard, buttercup, and turban squash. If you enjoy the taste, leave the skin on acorn, spaghetti, kabocha, and zucchini squash.

Do you have to cure winter squash before eating? ›

For the best-quality squash, wait to harvest all types until they are mature — at least 50–55 days after the fruit has set — and cure before storing and eating.

Are winter squash and butternut squash the same? ›

Butternut squash is one of the most popular types of winter squash with its sweet, slightly nutty flavor and is usually available year-round.

What is the sweetest winter squash? ›

Over the past several years, butternut squash has become a standard ingredient on menus as the star in a creamy soup, ravioli filling, or risotto flavor. It is the sweetest winter squash with a thick, bright orange, moist flesh that hides very few seeds.

Is winter squash a superfood? ›

They're all incredibly beneficial fruits (and yes, squash is considered fruit). Squash is more than just decorative pieces on your Thanksgiving table. Between their antioxidant levels and large list of vitamins, they're one of the best ingredients you could add to your fall or winter dinner menus.

What winter squash tastes like sweet potato? ›

The delicata squash has a moist, creamy yellow flesh that tastes and smells like a blend of corn, butternut squash and sweet potato. It is often referred to as the sweet potato squash. They are best eaten when steamed or baked.

What is the American name for kabocha squash? ›

Kabocha (/kəˈboʊtʃə/; from Japanese カボチャ, 南瓜) is a type of winter squash, a Japanese variety of the species Cucurbita maxima. It is also called kabocha squash or Japanese pumpkin in North America.

How to tell if kabocha squash is bad? ›

A squash with soft spots and is soft to the touch, is a sign that the squash has gone bad. And if it starts to leak fluid, that's a sure sign that the squash is spoiled. Likewise, if the flesh and seeds of the fruit are mushy and slimy, that's a clear sign that it shouldn't be eaten.

Do you eat the skin of kabocha squash? ›

The kabocha skin is edible. Many Japanese kabocha recipes such as kabocha tempura and simmered kabocha require it to keep the skin on.

Does butternut squash taste like regular squash? ›

What does Butternut Squash taste like? Butternut squash has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor, similar to that of sweet potatoes.

Does butternut squash taste like squash? ›

Sweet, moist and nutty tasting, the flavor of butternut squash is a bit like sweet potatoes—or, some say, butterscotch. Because it's so dense, you get more servings per fruit than you might with other squash varieties. The rind is edible (once cooked), but it's more commonly peeled away.

Can I use squash instead of butternut squash? ›

So if you can't find butternut squash, grab whatever you can. The mild flesh of the smaller acorn squash resembles a less sweet butternut, though the edible skin on an acorn squash can be much harder to peel off a raw squash.

Which squash is sweetest? ›

Butternut Squash

It is the sweetest winter squash with a thick, bright orange, moist flesh that hides very few seeds. The squash is an elongated pear shape with a thin, pale tan skin that is easy to peel. They usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.

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