Best Braised Winter Squash Recipes

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH WINTER SQUASH AND RED CHARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Sprinkle lamb on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large pot over high heat. Add lamb; cook until brown, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes. Transfer to plate. Add 1 tablespoon butter to drippings in pot. Add onion, carrots, parsnips, thyme and garlic. Sauté until vegetables soften and begin to brown, about 8 minutes. Add wine; boil until reduced almost to glaze, about 4 minutes. Return lamb to pot, arranging in single layer. Add stock, orange, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon fennel seeds; bring to boil. Place pot in oven. Braise lamb uncovered until tender, turning and basting often, about 2 hours 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rub cut sides of squash with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange squash, skin side down, on baking sheet. Roast on sheet alongside lamb until tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Scrape squash from skins into bowl; add nutmeg and 2 tablespoons butter. Mash with fork until almost smooth; season with salt and pepper. Transfer lamb to plate. Strain braising liquid into bowl; spoon off fat, if desired. Return liquid to pot. Add fresh fennel, orange peel and 1 teaspoon fennel seeds. Simmer until fennel is tender and sauce is thick enough to coat spoon, about 15 minutes. Return lamb to sauce.
• Rewarm lamb shanks, covered, over medium-low heat, about 15 minutes. Rewarm squash in saucepan over low heat, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
• Chard and final preparation:
• While lamb and squash heat, cut out center stem from chard leaves; discard stems. Coarsely tear leaves. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add chard and toss until chard wilts, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide squash and chard among 4 plates. Arrange lamb atop vegetables; spoon sauce with fennel over.

WINTER SQUASH BRAISED IN CIDER

Steps:

• Peel squash, halve lengthwise, and remove seeds with spoon. If using delicata, slice into half-moons 1/2-inch thick; if using butternut, dice into 1/2-inch chunks.
• Melt butter in a 12-inch skillet over low heat until foamy. Add rosemary, and cook over medium heat to flavor butter, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes. Add squash, cider, and 1 teaspoon salt. If squash is not covered by cider, add water to cover.
• Bring to a simmer, and cook until squash is tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. Remove squash to a plate. Cook cider mixture until it has reduced to a glaze, stirring frequently, 5 to 10 minutes. Add squash back to skillet. Cook until just warmed through. Sprinkle with vinegar, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to warm serving bowl, and serve immediately.

AUSTRALIAN LAMB MARSALA WITH BRAISED WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Trim the chops, season to taste and dredge in flour. Heat oil and butter in a large frying pan and add chops. Cook for 2-3 minutes on medium high heat or until chops are well browned. Pour in wine, broth and mushrooms. Reduce heat and slow braise, covered for 20-30 minutes, or until lamb is tender. You may need 2 pans for this, or sear in batches then stack in a larger pan for braising, rotating chops during cooking. Remove meat from pan, cover with foil. Continue to simmer sauce on a higher heat until thickened to desired consistency. Return lamb to pan with the sauce and heat through, spooning sauce over chops. While lamb is braising, cook the squash. Heat olive oil in a separate, non-stick pan and add shallot. Cook for 1 minute, add squash, and stir for additional 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Add broth and turn heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until tender. Serve lamb marsala over the braised squash.

BRAISED WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Melt butter in skillet with rosemary, after a few minutes add the squash, salt and cider. You may need to add some additional cider (or water), enough to cover the squash. Bring to a boil and braise for 20 minutes or until tender. At this point the juice should be reduced to a glaze. If not, raise heat for a few minutes until excess liquid evaporates. Add a splash of vinegar if you like