Making fresh winter squash purée

I will be the first to admit that I always have on hand a few cans of pumpkin or butternut squash purée. This is my emergency stash, just in case I need to whip up some pumpkin muffins for my nieces, or make my 15-minute butternut squash soup for an impromptu dinner!

My cans, though, have been known to sit on their shelf collecting dust for many months — the truth is, I very rarely reach for one!

As soon as the winter squash season starts, I buy baskets full of just-harvested sugar pumpkins, butternut squashes and many other winter squashes at my farmers’ market. I store a few perfect specimens in the garage (an ideal cold room in the fall and early winter months) and with the balance, I make fresh winter squash purée.

The flavor of this purée is so intense and sweet, the texture so creamy, that every time I make a batch, I cannot resist licking the bowl. Best of all, it’s extremely easy to prepare. All you need is a little time for baking the winter squashes. The rest happens in minutes.

Last but not least, the purée freezes extremely well. I pack it in 1-cup and 2-cup containers and freeze enough to last me all winter long.

So why not indulge? Keep your canned pumpkin for hectic days — the rest of the time, savor one of fall’s best treats and make your own, fresh winter squash purée.

A little warning though: it’ll be hard to go back to the canned stuff!

Fresh winter squash purée

winter squashes or sugar pumpkins
spring water or filtered water
large jellyroll pan or baking dish

Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 400ºF. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds.
Step 2: Place squash cut side down in the pan. Add enough water to the pan to measure about 1/4″ up the sides of the pan. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes until very tender (the baking time will depend on how big or how old the squash is).
Step 3: Remove from oven and place cut side up on a cutting board. Let cool for 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Place squash in a food processor and process until coarsely puréed. Scrape sides of the bowl and if the flesh is a bit dry, add a little water, 2 tablespoons at a time. Continue to process until the purée is silky-smooth.
Step 4: Once completely cooled to room temperature, refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

The small butternut squashes in the picture below were the first of the season. They were so tender that the purée turned out velvety-smooth and I never had to add any water to it — just magnificent!

Pre-heat oven to 400ºF. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Place squash cut side down in the pan. Add enough water to the pan to measure about 1/4″ up the sides of the pan. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes until very tender (the baking time will depend on how big and how old the squash is).

Remove from oven and place cut side up on a cutting board. Let cool for 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Scoop out flesh with a spoon.

Place squash in a food processor and process until coarsely puréed.

Scrape sides of the bowl and if the flesh is a bit dry, add a little water, 2 tablespoons at a time.

Continue to process until the purée is silky-smooth.

© 2009 viviane bauquet farre – food & style NY LLC