Worth Their Weight in Gold: Is Your Butternut Squash Starting to Rot? Here Are 10 Ways to Use It

1. Quick Butternut Squash Mash
Make a mash by boiling the squash in hot water until it's completely soft, then drain and mash with a fork until you get a puree texture.

2. Rich Butternut Squash Soup
Prepare a warm soup by cooking and blending the squash.

Here's a recipe:

Ingredients:
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups vegetable stock or water
1 cup coconut milk (optional, for added creaminess)
1 teaspoon cumin
Half teaspoon cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste
A pinch of grated nutmeg (optional)
Cilantro or parsley leaves for garnish

Preparation
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until it's translucent and tender.
2. Add the minced garlic, carrots, and squash, and mix well. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften slightly.
3. Season with cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir so the spices coat the vegetables evenly.
4. Add the vegetable stock or water, and bring to a boil. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the squash and carrots are completely soft.
5. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth and velvety. If using a regular blender, blend gradually to prevent overflow.
6. If you want to add creaminess, add the coconut milk and blend lightly.
7. Check seasoning and add salt or pepper as needed.

Important Tip

For added flavor depth, you can roast the squash in the oven beforehand with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper before cooking.

Enjoy your meal!

3. Butternut Squash Patties
Grind the squash and make patties with egg, flour, and spices.

4. Butternut Squash Jam
Cook the squash with sugar and cinnamon to create homemade jam.

Ingredients
500 grams butternut squash, peeled and diced
250 grams sugar
Juice of one lemon
Grated lemon peel (from an untreated area)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
1/2 cup water

Preparation
1. Preparing the squash. Peel the squash, remove seeds, and cut into even cubes. Even size helps with even cooking.

2. Initial cooking. In a large pot, place the squash cubes with the water. Cook over medium-low heat until the squash begins to soften (about 10 minutes).

3. Add remaining ingredients. Add the sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel, and spices (cinnamon and nutmeg). Stir well, and continue cooking over low heat.

4. Cook until thickened. Cook the mixture for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash becomes very soft and the syrup thickens. For a smoother texture, you can blend the mixture with an immersion blender.

5. Cooling and storage. Transfer the jam to sterilized glass jars, seal properly, and let cool. Store in the refrigerator.

Ideas for interesting combinations:
- Add a vanilla bean during cooking for a rich flavor addition.
- For slightly spicy jam, add a pinch of grated ginger.
- Serve with fresh bread, crackers, or as an interesting accompaniment to hard cheeses.

Butternut squash jam is an original and delicious way to enjoy this vegetable with a sweet taste, and it pairs wonderfully with breakfasts or as a special snack.

5. Oven-Baked Butternut Squash
Cut into cubes, season with olive oil and spices, and bake.

6. Butternut Squash Dip
Mash the squash and turn it into a dip, seasoned with your preferred spices.

7. Butternut Squash Cake
Add the squash to a cake recipe.

8. Warm Butternut Squash Salad
Dice and fry with other vegetables.

9. Microwave Butternut Squash
Soften in the microwave for quick mash.

10. Freezing for Future Use
Dice and freeze for later use.