Best Butternut Chilli Recipes

BUTTERNUT CHILLI

Steps:

• If using fresh tomatoes, pour boiling water over them in a bowl, count to 30, then lift out, peel and chop.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan with a lid and add the onions and garlic. Soften gently, stirring occasionally. Stir the chilli, cayenne, oregano and bay leaf into the onions. Stir-fry for 1 min, then stir in the squash, olives and wine. Simmer for a couple of mins, stirring, then add the tomatoes and 200ml water. Crumble in the stock cube and stir. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 mins, stirring occasionally.
• Add the peppers to the pan and check the seasoning. Add extra water if it's looking dry. Cover and cook for a further 25-30 mins until the squash is tender. Can be frozen at this stage for up to 1 month - defrost overnight in the fridge before continuing with the recipe.
• Add the beans to the pan and reheat. Serve with chives and soured cream on the side.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH SPICY CHILLI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Rub the squash with a little oil, then roast them on a baking tray for 45 mins until soft.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan, then fry the onion for a few mins until soft. Stir in the chilli and cumin, fry for 1 min more, then add the mince, browning for 3-4 mins. Stir in the purée and beans with a splash of water and season. Warm through and keep warm. Or cool, freeze for up to 1 month, then defrost and reheat.
• Scoop a little of the soft squash flesh out to make a hollow, then stir this into the chilli with half the coriander. Fill the cavity of each squash with a quarter of the mix, then scatter with the remaining coriander. Dress the spinach with a drop more olive oil, season and serve alongside the squash.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CHILLI & CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Cut 1 peeled and deseeded butternut squash into large cubes, about 4cm/1½in across, then toss in a large roasting tin with 1 tbsp of the olive oil.
• Roast for 30 mins, turning once during cooking, until golden and soft.
• While the butternut squash cooks, melt 1 tbsp butter with the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan, then add 2 diced onions, 1 thinly sliced garlic clove and ¾ of the 2 deseeded and finely chopped red chillies.
• Cover and cook on a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the onions are completely soft.
• Tip the butternut squash into the pan, add 850ml hot vegetable stock and 4 tbsp crème fraîche, then whizz with a stick blender until smooth. For a really silky soup, put the soup into a liquidiser and blitz it in batches.
• Return to the pan, gently reheat, then season to taste.
• Serve the soup in bowls with swirls of crème fraîche and a scattering of the remaining chopped chilli.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CHILLI SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 200C (or 180C for a fan oven).
• Peel the butternut squash, remove the pips and chop into cubes about 4cm across.
• Place on a baking tray and toss with half the olive oil, then place in your oven. Cook for 30mins, or until soft, turning once.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pan, together with the remaining olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and chilli, cover and cook at a very low heat for 15-20 minutes, or until soft.
• When all cooked, combine in the pan, add the stock cubes and 600ml of boiling water, then the Greek yoghurt.
• Blitz with a stick blender, or in batches in a regular blender to achieve a silkier texture.
• Season to taste and serve with a small drizzle of yoghurt and a few strips of finely chopped chilli.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH, CHORIZO & CHILLI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Pull the white fat out of the chicken's cavity and discard. Tuck 2 onion halves inside the cavity with the 4 whole sage leaves, rub the skin with a little oil, then season well. Put the chicken, breast-side down, in a large roasting tin, then roast for 45 mins. Turn it over then roast for 30 mins more.
• Toss the onion wedges with the sage, squash, potatoes, chillies, chorizo and garlic. Add the oil, season well, and mix again. Scatter round the chicken, toss in the pan juices, then roast for 45 mins.
• Lift the chicken from the roasting tin and put on a plate, then turn up the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Toss the vegetables in the pan juices, spread over the tin to give them a bit of space, then return to the oven for 15 mins to brown while the chicken rests under foil and tea towels. Garnish with fresh sage leaves and serve with broccoli and wilted spinach.

CHORIZO, BEAN AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH CHILLI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot and cook the onion and garlic for a few minutes.
• Add the chorizo and red chilli and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, sugar, pepper and 150ml cold water. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the squash, cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the beans last and cook for a final 5 minutes.
• Stir in the parsley and serve.