Baked Butternut And Pears Recipes

MASHED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Peel the pears, cut in half and remove the core. Place the pears and squash, cut side up, on a foil-lined baking sheet.
• In a small saucepan, over low heat, melt the butter. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape the seeds off of each side with a paring knife. Add the seeds to the butter. Reserve the pod for another use. Whisk the brown sugar and ginger into the melted butter and remove from the heat.
• Brush the butter mixture onto the cut sides of the squash and pears. Season with salt and pepper. Set the remaining butter mixture aside and keep it warm. Roast the squash and pears until soft, about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the size of the squash. The squash is cooked when a knife can be inserted easily into the flesh.
• Scoop flesh out of the squash and discard the skin. Place the squash and pears in a large bowl and mash with a fork or a potato masher. Stir in the remaining melted butter mixture. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve warm.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PEAR SOUP

Steps:

• In a 4-quart saucepan melt the butter over medium-high heat, and add and sweat the onions. Add squash and pears and sweat those too a bit. Pour in the stock, enough to submerge solids. Add sprig of rosemary and bring to a simmer and cook until squash is fork tender about 15 to 18 minutes. Remove rosemary. Puree with immersion blender. Add a touch of cream and season, to taste.

EASY BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PEAR SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place butternut squash, onions, pears, tomatoes, and carrot in a large roasting pan. Drizzle olive oil on top. Season with pepper and nutmeg.
• Roast in the preheated oven until squash is easily pierced with a knife, 1 to 2 hours. Cool until squash is easily handled, about 10 minutes.
• Scoop flesh out of the squash with a spoon; place in a pot. Discard peel. Transfer roasted onions, pears, tomatoes, and carrot to the pot. Add 1 cup chicken stock. Puree mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Stir remaining 1 1/2 cups chicken stock into the pot. Heat soup until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt.

DEBORAH MADISON'S ROASTED SQUASH, PEAR, AND GINGER SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cut the squash in half, scrape out the seeds, then cut each half into thirds. Put the pieces in a large baking dish or roasting pan with the pears and all but a few slices of the ginger. Brush with oil, season with salt, and bake until fragrant and tender, about 1 hour. Turn the pieces once or twice so that they have a chance to caramelize on more than one surface. If the squash seems very dry (some varieties are), add 1 cup water to the pan to create steam and cover with foil. When the squash is tender, transfer everything from the pan to a cutting board, add 1 cup water to the pan, and scrape to dissolve the juices, reserving the liquid. Scrape the flesh of the squash away from the skins. You should have about 2 cups.
• 2. To make a stock, bring 6 cups water to a boil and add the seeds and, eventually,the squash skins, the remaining ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a soup pot. Add the onion, give it a stir, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown a bit and is fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add the pears, ginger, and squash, then the reserved deglazing water. Strain the stock into the pot. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes. Cool briefly, then puree until smooth and pass through a food mill or strainer to ensure a silky texture. Serve as is or swirl in the crème fraîche.