Description
A delightful squash casserole recipe topped with a satisfyingly crunchy topping, perfect for adding texture to your meal. This recipe brings a touch of Italian warmth to your table, inspired by generations of family cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 kg butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 200 ml heavy cream
- 100 ml milk
- 50 g grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- For the crunchy topping:
- 50 g breadcrumbs
- 30 g chopped walnuts
- 20 g melted butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F).
- In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the cubed butternut squash to the pan. Stir well to coat with the onion and garlic mixture.
- Pour in the heavy cream and milk. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- While the squash is cooking, prepare the crunchy topping. In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, chopped walnuts, melted butter, and chopped parsley. Mix until everything is evenly coated.
- Pour the squash mixture into a baking dish.
- Sprinkle the crunchy topping evenly over the squash mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crispy, and the casserole is bubbling.
- Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts with other nuts like pecans or almonds, or use seeds like pumpkin seeds for a nut-free option.
- For an extra layer of flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg or a dash of cayenne pepper to the squash mixture.
- Ensure the squash is cooked until tender before assembling the casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approximately 350 kcal
- Sugar: Approximately 10 g
- Sodium: Approximately 300 mg
- Fat: Approximately 25 g
- Saturated Fat: Approximately 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approximately 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 25 g
- Fiber: Approximately 5 g
- Protein: Approximately 8 g
- Cholesterol: Approximately 40 mg