Kabocha Squash Mash Recipes

KABOCHA SQUASH MASH

Steps:

• Peel and roughly chop 1 large kabocha squash (about 3 pounds), discarding the seeds. Cook in boiling salted water until soft, about 20 minutes; reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, then drain. Puree the squash and the reserved liquid with 1/4 cup heavy cream; season with salt and pepper. Top with toasted pepitas.
• Use a food processor or immersion blender to puree these veggies-they're too fibrous for a potato masher.

KABOCHA-CAULIFLOWER MASH

Steps:

• Cook squash in a large pot of simmering (not boiling) salted water 6 minutes. Add cauliflower; continue simmering until vegetables are very tender, 10 to 12 minutes more. Drain, then return vegetables to pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until vegetables appear dry and a film forms on bottom of pot, 3 to 4 minutes. Pass vegetables through a ricer, food mill, or chinois strainer; cover to keep warm.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium. When it shimmers, add ginger and garlic; cook until fragrant and sizzling, about 30 seconds. Add coconut milk; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and stir into vegetable mixture until smooth. If mash is too stiff, add broth or water, a few tablespoons at a time. Season with salt and pepper and serve warm.

WINTER SQUASH MASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil inside each kabocha squash half and brush to coat. Place squash halves, cut side down, on prepared baking sheet. Roast until squash is very tender when pierced with knife, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool slightly. Scoop out squash flesh into bowl and mash until almost smooth.
• Melt butter in skillet over medium-high heat until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and stir 1 minute. Add butter mixture and 1 cup broth to squash and mash until smooth. Season generously with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Add more broth if desired and rewarm in microwave before continuing.)
• Stir 2 tablespoons parsley into squash. Sprinkle squash with remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and serve.