Butternut Squash Pilaf
Recipe from EatingWell

Grated butternut squash adds color and nutrients to this brown rice pilaf. Greeks like to use winter squash, especially pumpkin, to make savory and sweet pies, fritters and croquettes, casseroles and myriad other dishes with fall's telltale vegetables, but these dishes are virtually unknown outside the country. It's traditionally made with pumpkin, but since most pumpkins in the U.S. are grown for carving jack-o'-lanterns (and not for cooking), we've modified the recipe to work with readily available butternut squash. The original dish calls for Greek pilaf rice, a short-grained, polished rice that is hard to find outside the country, so we've substituted instant brown rice.


Butternut Squash Pilaf

by 1  person


add your rating
add a comment
Servings: 8 servings, about 3/4 cup each
Prep Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 1 hr

 
savings in
 
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds
    butternut squash, peeled, halved and seeded
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 3 tablespoons
    extra-virgin olive oil
    see savings
    On Sale
  • large red onion, finely chopped
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 1 clove
    garlic, minced
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 2 tablespoons
    water
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 1 tablespoon
    tomato paste
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 1 cup
    instant or parboiled brown rice
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 1 3/4 cups
    water, or 1 14-ounce can vegetable broth
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 1/2 cup
    white wine
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 1/2 cup
    chopped fennel fronds, (see Ingredient Note)
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 2 tablespoons
    chopped fresh oregano
    see savings
    On Sale
  • 1 teaspoon
    salt
    see savings
    On Sale
  •  Pinch of
    cinnamon
    see savings
    On Sale
  •  
    Freshly ground pepper, to taste
    see savings
    On Sale

Directions
1.
Grate the squash through the large holes of a box grater.
2.
Heat oil in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft and lightly colored, 10 to 12 minutes. Combine 2 tablespoons water and tomato paste in a small bowl and stir it into the pan. Add rice and stir to coat. Add the squash, in batches if necessary, and stir until it has reduced in volume enough so that you can cover the pan.
3.
Increase the heat to medium-high, pour in 1 3/4 cups water (or broth) and wine, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, covered, stirring once or twice, until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid and the squash is tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
4.
Add fennel fronds, oregano, salt, cinnamon and pepper; gently stir to combine. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Ingredient note:
Fennel "fronds" are the feathery tops on fennel bulbs. Look for fresh fennel bulbs--with their fronds still attached--in the produce section. The fronds look similar to fresh dill and have a mild licorice flavor. You'll need to buy one large or two smaller bulbs of fennel to have enough fronds to make 1/2 cup chopped.

Nutrition information
Per serving: Calories 152, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat 4 g, Sodium 302 mg, Carbohydrate 21 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 2 g, Potassium 333 mg. Daily Values: Vitamin A 220%, Vitamin C 30%. Exchanges: Starch 1.5,Fat 1. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Add Your Review
Related Recipe
Burst-of-Orange Butternut Squash
Burst-of-Orange Butternut Squash

A sweet maple-orange glaze coats this low calorie, baked butternut squash side dish.

 Articles
Acorn & Butternut Squash -- A Power Punch of Nutrition
...As you head to the farmers market this month, you'll probably start to see more butternut, acorn..., and other "winter" squash, so named because it stores well through the winter, providing fresh vegetables... during the cold season when not much else is growing. Although squash comes in a dazzling variety... read more...
Butternut Squash -- Easy to Cook, Always Delicious
...How to cook butternut squash? Well, you can roast it, grill it, puree it for soups, or mash it.... Butternut squash has the perfect creamy, sweet, nutty flavor that is irresistible any way you prepare it.... As Shakespeare once asked, "what's in a name?" When it comes to butternut squash, a staple of the autumn... read more...
28 Days of Slow Cooking: Butternut Squash Soup with Thai Gremolata
... butternut squash was created by a Vermonter named George A. Leggett in the 1940s. "It's as smooth as butter... homes all over the world. Make this Butternut Squash Soup with Thai Gremolata! February is slow cooking...Exotic as it sounds, in a way, this Thai-inspired soup is coming home. Squash was first cultivated... read more...
how tos
Food Blogs We Love
see more blogs

shop our favorite products