Winter Squash Braised in Cider Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Andy

I think butternuts can be very easy to peel, since they don't have pumpkin-esque ridges like many other gourds. Here's what I do:1. Using a sharp chef's knife, slice off the very top (stem) and very bottom (opposite of stem).2. Cut the squash in half at its "waist." You now have a skinny top part and a round bottom part.(to be continued...)

jsilberlicht

Delicate need not be peeled!

Dan C.

Just made this. I was a bit apprehensive seeing how much rosemary was in the dish, but it gets mellowed out over the course of braising and takes on a nutty character. The dish is quite sweet; I added a little extra butter and a few tablespoons of water, in addition to the vinegar and salt, at the end and that seemed to help. Perhaps I reduced the sauce too much? Still a very tasty dish. 4/5.

PEllen

First, a quibble. The instructions say to peel the squash but the photo shows unpeeled delicata. Pretty, but wrong.

A very similar recipe was Financial Times maybe 25 years ago from Phillipa Davenport using only balsamic vinegar and tossed with mint.

Yes, Hard ( and leftover) cider can be used but use one on the apple-ier ones. Stick with Strongbow, one of the Woodchucks or something labeled seasonal cider which tend to be sweeter;look for a lower ABV number, too.

beaconps

Request more info on rosemary. Must it be fresh? Can a sprig be used and discarded before serving? I once ruined some fried potatoes with dried rosemary. A guest called the dish "potatoes and sticks"

SMH

The recipe says it takes 15 minutes. Instructions say to simmer for 40 minutes.

Monica

Are we supposed to cover the pan while simmering?

Sheila Pulver

I'm sure rosemary would have been delicious, but I didn't have any fresh rosemary so I subsistuted fresh sage since it's also aromatic and goes well with squash. I didn't peel the delicata and served it over polenta--tasty.

Hally

I just set out to make this quickly after seeing the 15 minute time, only to find out that the squash needs to cook for 40 minutes and then to find that others have written about this misprint a year ago. It would be great if you could fix the mistake and save others from feeding their kids a lot later than they had anticipated! Thank you!

Yvonne

This turned out really well, but a couple of comments. The time listed, 10 minutes, is clearly a mistake since it refers to nothing in the recipe. It took me somewhat over an hour, start to finish. The amount of squash called for did not fit in my 12" skillet. I used two pans instead.

Laura

I used two delicata squash, about 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Did not have cider so substituted orange juice with a squeeze of lemon juice. I used half as much liquid as the recipe stated and simmered, covered for only 15 minutes. The squash was nice and tender! Reduced this and finished with a splash of apple cider vinegar. It was yummy. Next time I’ll add rosemary, which sadly I did not have I hand.

Melissa

Interesting and delicious side dish. I prefer roasted delicata, but this was a nice change. I didn’t have rosemary (and don’t care for it), so I subbed a mix of thyme and tarragon (dried so I used about a teaspoon on thyme and a half teaspoon tarragon) and it was delicious. I was cooking for lactose intolerant people so I also used olive oil rather than butter. Everyone enjoyed it and it paired well with thanksgiving dinner. As others noted, there’s no need to peel delicata.

Nancy Pemberton

Time is not 15 minutes, as it says at the top of the recipe. It’s 60 minutes since you have o cook the squash 30-40 minutes. Bad mistake.

Maria Cate

In the US apple cider is non-alcoholic. The other kind we call hard cider.

notes

Use thyme instead of rosemary

Carolyn

Delicious!! Added an extra teaspoon of apple cider vinegar at the end. Great sweet and sour combo

LG

Use hard cider

Vitruvius

Less time for the Delecata. More for reduction. No peeling!

sarah m

This was more like an hour from start to finish rather than 15 mins. It was entirely fantastic!

Andrew

This generally worked very well. The one surprise in my case was that the cider mixture took much longer to cook down to a glaze than the 5-10 minutes indicated in the instructions, so plan for a little extra time on that step depending on how much cider liquid you have after removing the squash.

Hard cider or apple juice?

The distinction is never clear to me when the recipe is from the US.

Maria Cate

In the US apple cider is non-alcoholic. The other kind we call hard cider.

Hally

I just set out to make this quickly after seeing the 15 minute time, only to find out that the squash needs to cook for 40 minutes and then to find that others have written about this misprint a year ago. It would be great if you could fix the mistake and save others from feeding their kids a lot later than they had anticipated! Thank you!

Nancy Pemberton

Time is not 15 minutes, as it says at the top of the recipe. It’s 60 minutes since you have o cook the squash 30-40 minutes. Bad mistake.

erock

Used delicata and sage, came out perfect. Was a good use of some leftover herbs, squash and cider!

yalerc

Great recipe but cook time of squash and for glazing at end took far longer than recipe suggests. From chopping squash to putting on table, took a solid 45 mins if not a bit longer

aks

11/26/2020 Really good. Used with the newly engineered Honeynut Squash. The strong rosemary presence plus the vinegar make it a good contrast to the sweetness of Thanksgiving foods. Although, to be clear, this is very much a sweet dish.

Melissa

Interesting and delicious side dish. I prefer roasted delicata, but this was a nice change. I didn’t have rosemary (and don’t care for it), so I subbed a mix of thyme and tarragon (dried so I used about a teaspoon on thyme and a half teaspoon tarragon) and it was delicious. I was cooking for lactose intolerant people so I also used olive oil rather than butter. Everyone enjoyed it and it paired well with thanksgiving dinner. As others noted, there’s no need to peel delicata.

Laura

I used two delicata squash, about 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Did not have cider so substituted orange juice with a squeeze of lemon juice. I used half as much liquid as the recipe stated and simmered, covered for only 15 minutes. The squash was nice and tender! Reduced this and finished with a splash of apple cider vinegar. It was yummy. Next time I’ll add rosemary, which sadly I did not have I hand.

SMH

The recipe says it takes 15 minutes. Instructions say to simmer for 40 minutes.

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Winter Squash Braised in Cider Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What has to be done to a winter squash before cooking? ›

Cooking Whole

Cut the squash in half, clean out the seeds with a spoon and place cut-side down on an oiled sheet pan or lasagna dish. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the pan and bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until you can easily poke through the squash with a fork.

How do you make winter squash easier to cut? ›

For easier cutting, heat squash in the microwave first.

The simplest way to make this task a whole lot easier is by scoring the squash around the outside, then microwaving it for five minutes.

How do you preserve winter squash? ›

Pressure canning is the only safe method of canning winter squash. Winter squash must be pressure canned to avoid the potential of the foodborne illness botulism. Squash should have a hard rind and stringless, mature pulp of ideal quality for cooking fresh. Wash, remove seeds, cut into 1-inch slices, and peel.

Do you have to cure winter squash before eating? ›

For the best-quality squash, wait to harvest all types until they are mature — at least 50–55 days after the fruit has set — and cure before storing and eating.

How long does it take for squash to get soft? ›

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and sauté the squash for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook until it softens but still has a nice bite. You don't want it to become mushy!

How do you cook squash so it doesn't get soggy? ›

Don't overcook.

The most common reason that zucchini or squash get soggy is that it's been cooked for too long. As soon as it's heated through and slightly tender, remove it from the heat to prevent further cooking.

Can you cook squash with the skin on? ›

It's definitely OK to eat squash skin,” Rayna Joyce, vegetable production manager at Bread and Butter Farm in Shelburne, Vermont, told me. “Some (winter) squash have really delicate skins and they become tender when cooked. You can bake them and eat the whole thing.”

What temperature is best for winter squash? ›

Temperature and Humidity

Most winter squash prefer warm weather and grow best in 50°F to 90°F. Winter squash plants tolerate light frost for short periods. A light frost that kills the squash vine might not kill the fruit; it can be harvested if ripe and undamaged.

Why cook squash cut side down? ›

Putting it cut-side down creates a sort-of steam chamber for the flesh, helping it cook faster and retain moisture (no dried out squash here!).

How do you harden winter squash? ›

Harden off the squash for about seven to fourteen days by letting them sit in the field if conditions are favorable. You can also lift the fruit off the ground and place in single layers in a dry, well-ventilated spot. Ideally, hardening off conditions boast temperatures of 80°to 85°F with 80 to 85% relative humidity.

What is the best way to preserve squash? ›

We recommend preserving summer squash or zucchini by pickling or freezing. Summer squash is good for you. It is low in calories and many varieties provide vitamin C, potassium and, if the skin is eaten, beta carotene. Preserve summer squash by freezing, pickle them for canning or dry them.

What is the longest storing winter squash? ›

Storage life varies by squash type. Acorn squash stores the shortest amount of time: 4 weeks. Spaghetti stores four to five weeks; Buttercup, 13 weeks; Butternut, up to six months; Blue Hubbard, six to seven months.

How do you prepare soil for winter squash? ›

Most full-size winter squash varieties need 50 to 100 square feet to spread. Soil must be well-fed and moist (not soggy), and well-draining. Mix aged manure and/or compost (about 50% native soil to organic matter) deep into the soil a couple of weeks before planting.

How do you prepare squash in advance? ›

Preparing Squash in Advance

Cut butternut squash in advance as part of your meal-prep to make weeknight dinners a breeze. Simple store the diced squash in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to use; it will last about 4-5 days but may dry out a little, so it is better to use sooner rather than later.

How do you clean winter squash? ›

To oil buff, first thoroughly wash the squash to remove all dirt, then dry it completely. Put a small amount of vegetable oil on clean cloth or paper towel then rub the oil all over the surface of the squash, buffing off any excess oil. The squash should not be greasy to the touch and just barely shiny.

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