As I mentioned recently, this time of year I stop by local orchards on a weekly basis. When I went to an orchard a couple weeks ago, I decided to check out their winter squash offerings. With cool weather making itself permanent, I have been craving squash. However, I tend to stick with the same squash time and again: butternut (as in this recipe) or acorn. So, when I arrived at the orchard, my goal was clear- any squash but those two!
This large orchard did not disappoint me. They had quite an assortment of squash available. I immediately knew I would pass on the blue hubbard, as that would produce many more side dishes than I needed. Among the different varieties, I found two that I decided to try, sunshine and delicata squash.
The sunshine squash looked almost exactly like a pumpkin. I asked the clerk if she had cooked with this squash. Unfortunately, she had not, but she recommended cooking it in a similar fashion to any other winter squash. Being at the orchard, I had apples on my mind, so I purchased some cider to use in my cooking.
When I create new recipes, I quite often try to include a variety of tastes and textures. For this squash dish, I wanted some sweetness from the cider, but I didn’t want it to taste like a dessert. To balance the sweetness, I added sage and onions for savoriness. Sauteed and then simmered, the squash would be tender yet firm.
This was a wonderful dish to make. While it cooked the kitchen was filled with an incredible ranges of aromas. The individual ingredients each held their own and created a delightful assortment of tastes in each bite.
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 sunshine squash, peeled, seeded, & cubed
- 2 teaspoons fresh sage leaves, chopped
- 3/4 cup cider
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
- Melt butter in pan, and add onion and squash.
- Saute for 5 minutes.
- Add sage, and saute for another 5 minutes.
- Warm cider in a microwave-safe measuring cup.
- Add brown sugar to cider, and stir until sugar dissolves.
- Add cider mixture to squash.
- Cook for 20-30 minutes, or until cider has reduced and squash is tender but firm.
