Butternut Squash With Lebanese Spiced Ground Beef And Garlic Yog Recipes

LEBANESE SPICED POTATOES (BATATA HARRA)

Steps:

• Heat canola oil and fry medium size cubed potatoes until crisp.
• Remove onto a paper towel lined plate.
• In another pan heat olive oil and add finely chopped onion, minced garlic, cayenne, ground coriander and finely chopped cilantro, saute then add the potatoes sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Mix well and add lime juice.
• Serve Immediately with garlic sauce such as recipe#108234 without the fresh cilantro added.
• Enjoy!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP OR BISQUE (ROASTING METHOD)

Steps:

• ROASTING: preheat oven to 450. Peel and dice squash into 1/2 inch pieces (see tip at end). Dice onion into 1/2 inch pieces. Toss squash and onion with olive oil and spread pieces onto a large flat baking pan. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes - add diced apple - and continue roasting another 10-20 minutes (30-40 total roasting time).
• Tip: while you are roasting, make some "cheese toasts". Put some shredded cheese on top of bread rounds (we like gruyere or parmesan). Bake 10-15 minutes until crispy. These cheese toasts are fantastic soup toppers!
• Place roasted mixture into blender with about half the chicken broth; puree (keep hand on lid because hot liquids can cause the top to "explode" off with built up steam). Add remaining chicken broth, half-and-half, and herbs; puree.
• Transfer mixture to saucepan; reheat gently.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream and croutons.
• TIP: to prepare squash, first cut squash in half horizontally. Place flat end onto cutting board to stabilize squash and use a peeler to remove skin. Remove seeds. Then cut into lengths, and then into diced pieces.
• NOTE: if you have leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving, add about 1/2 cup, which will thicken the soup and add a nice smoothness.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH LEBANESE SPICED GROUND BEEF AND GARLIC YOG

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 425F/220C/gas mark 7.
• Using a strong, sharp knife, halve the butternut lengthways. Scrape out and discard the seeds. Extend the cavity by cutting out chunks of squash. Don't be too fussy about this because you want plenty of butternut to remain. Cut a light lattice all over the flesh to speed up cooking.
• Use 1 tbsp olive oil to smear the surface lavishly. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Roast for 35-45 minutes or until the flesh is meltingly tender. (Check before end of cooking time as hopefully you have a ripe squash but if you don't it takes longer).
• Meanwhile, peel, halve and chop the onion.
• Heat the remaining 1 tbs olive oil in a spacious frying pan and cook the onion for about 10 minutes until limp and uncoloured.
• Finely chop the excavated butternut.
• Add the mince, increase the heat slightly and cook, stirring and breaking up clumps of meat. If using extra lean like I do add some canola oil to keep the meat less dry! It will take about 6 minutes to be browned all over.
• Add chopped butternut squash.
• Stir in the cumin, baharat, sea salt, to taste, freshly ground black pepper, to taste, and pine kernels. Cook for a couple of minutes.
• Add water, simmer, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove the lid and cook briskly until juicy but not the least bit wet or greasy.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Chop the parsley leaves. Stir into the mixture.
• Spoon it into the cavity and over the cooked squash.
• To make the yoghurt, peel, chop and crush the garlic with a generous pinch of sea salt (discard the green central shoot). Beat into the yoghurt with the lemon juice and 1 tbsp of the best olive oil you have.
• Spoon the yoghurt over the butternut and serve. (We do this at the table).
• Enjoy!