Baked Squash With Carmelized Onions

Squash harmonize well with onions.

The sweet and savory tastes of roasted squash and caramelized onions harmonize beautifully. Although they're called "caramelized," the onions really undergo a Maillard reaction, which requires protein and sugar to create a browned appearance and a sweeter, more complex flavor. The natural sugars in the onions combine with the protein in butter to produce a deep-brown hue and a rich, mellow sweetness. Combine caramelized onions with winter squash for a delicate dish that's as rich in nutrition as it is in flavor.

Things You'll Need

• 4 cups winter squash, cubed into 1-inch pieces
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Baking sheet
• 2 medium yellow onions, finely diced
• 1 tbsp butter
• Skillet
• Chicken stock (optional)
• Thyme (optional)
• Nutmeg (optional)
• Brown rice (optional)

Instructions

Roasting the Squash

1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. As the oven heats, toss the cubes of winter squash with just enough olive oil to coat the pieces lightly, and sprinkle them with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Arrange the pieces of squash on a baking sheet. It's fine if the pieces touch, but try to keep the squash cubes to a single layer so they'll cook evenly.

3. Bake the squash pieces until they're completely fork-tender, about 35 to 45 minutes.

Caramelizing the Onions

1. Add a tablespoon of butter to a large skillet over low heat. As the butter melts, add sufficient olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan. The butter contributes proteins essential to the browning process, while the olive oil reduces saturated fat and elevates the oil's smoke point over that of pure butter.

2. Transfer the diced onions to the pan and stir them to coat the onion pieces evenly. Keep the heat turned low; caramelizing onions is a slow process, and attempting to speed it by turning up the heat will burn your onions.

3. Stir the onions frequently to ensure they don't stick to the pan or burn. Adding a tablespoon or two of water throughout the cooking process helps keep the onions from burning

4. Cook the onions until they reach a deep brown color. The caramelization process should take about 35 to 40 minutes.

Combining Squash and Onions

1. Transfer the squash pieces to a serving bowl, and top them with the freshly caramelized onions. Stir gently to combine the ingredients. Add salt, pepper and seasonings to taste.

2. Puree the squash pieces and caramelized onions together with chicken stock, fresh thyme and freshly grated nutmeg to create a rich squash soup.

3. Incorporate the squash and onions with cooked brown rice and chicken stock and bake the mixture for an additional few minutes to make a nutritious casserole.

Tips & Warnings

• Roasting the squash in pieces lets it cook at the same speed as the onions, making it possible to assemble the dish when both of its constituent ingredients are done.

• Use an assortment of different winter squashes for a more complex flavor.

• Avoid adding more than a tablespoon or two of water during the caramelization process; you'll wind up boiling the onions instead of caramelizing them, and they'll lack depth of flavor.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Vegetable of the Month: Winter Squash
• Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network: Winter Squash
• The Science of Cooking: What Gives Meat Its Flavor?
• Serious Eats: The Food Lab: A Better Way to Make Caramelized Onions (Plus, French Onion Dip!)