A low calorie and low carb alternative to french fries. These Butternut Squash Fries are a perfect way to get your fussy eaters eating more veg!
You know Autumn is here when the squash and pumpkin recipes start appearing all over the place.
As much as I love Butternut Squash I really can’t disassociate it with the winter months so I tend not to eat it during Spring and Summer.
But after months of cold salads I am ready to start tucking into my favourite squash again.
Why is Butternut Squash So Good For You?
Rich in vitaminsand fibre, Butternut Squash is an excellent choice of vegetable providing slow release energy for managed blood sugar regulation.
It is also high in antioxidants and has some incredible anti-inflammatory properties.
So It really does make a great alternative to regular chips or fries.
What Recipes Can I Make With Butternut Squash?
Soups, curries and casseroles are all great vehicles for Butternut Squash.
You can even use it as a base for this healthier !
And did you know that you can cook a whole squash in the slow cooker? Saves so much faffing about with the vegetable peeler and then trying to cut it into chunks!
But anyway, I am hoping to get my fussy eater into the habit of eating and used to the taste of this vegetable on its own. And what better way to do that than in the form of fries!
She loves regular french fries, so I’m hoping by making these fries resemble something she is already familiar with and likes, that it won’t be too much of a leap for her.
This recipe is super easy and you only need a handful of ingredients.
1 large squash
olive oil
sea salt
See the recipe card below for full instructions!
I’ve cut my squash into a normal french fry shape just for ease, but I think they would look great if you used a crinkle cutter if you have one!
How To Serve These Homemade Fries
These fries make a great healthy side dish for the whole family that you could serve alongside these Airfryer Chicken Nuggets or even these Baked Salmon Nuggets for a healthy take on fish and chip night!
Or you could even serve them up simply sprinkled with a bit of coarse salt alongside your favorite dipping sauce as a snack!
Next time I’m just serving for adults, I’d try really like to try it cooked with some fresh rosemary and then garnished with some of that fancy garlic sea salt!
I have to be honest and let you know that if you are expecting a crispy french fry then you are going to be a little disappointed.
These Butternut Squash Fries won’t crisp up like a normal potato fry but they are still a fantastic way of introducing new vegetables to fussy eaters in a recognisable form.
I need to come up with an airfryer butternut squash fries recipe I think!
That might just fix the crispiness issue! If you have tried making these in your airfryer, then do let me know how they turned out!
If you do try this recipe please do let me know what you think.
Squashes behave very differently when cooked in the oven or on the stovetop. Generally, a squash that is roasted in the oven is going to have a much softer texture, one that can get mushy if mixed with other ingredients, but making it ideal for a purée, soup, or being mashed.
Squashes behave very differently when cooked in the oven or on the stovetop. Generally, a squash that is roasted in the oven is going to have a much softer texture, one that can get mushy if mixed with other ingredients, but making it ideal for a purée, soup, or being mashed.
In addition to its numerous health benefits, fiber makes meals more satisfying by filling you up for longer so you aren't reaching for a snack just an hour or two later. Including butternut squash in meals can boost your fiber intake, as one serving of butternut squash provides about 10% of your Daily Value for fiber.
The key to avoiding watery butternut squash is to roast it rather than steam it. Steaming butternut squash causes the vegetable to absorb more water and doesn't impart much flavor. Roasting the squash prevents this and caramelizes the vegetable's natural sugars, adding another layer of flavor to your dish.
Make sure all of the squash is coated with oil. Place in oven and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once, or until squash is golden brown and fork tender. Don't overcook it or it will get mushy.
Butternut squash offers nutritional values like vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. Health benefits of this winter squash include managing high blood pressure, preventing asthma, and promoting healthy skin and hair. Contrary to the name, winter squash is grown in the summer and harvested in the fall.
Butternut squash contains considerable amounts of fiber, which can help you keep a healthy weight and regulate bowel movements. It's known to help prevent colorectal cancer while the beta-carotene in butternut squash can also improve eye health.
Butternut squash is a low-calorie food and is packed with nutrients. While it's higher in carbs than some other veggies, its low glycemic index (a ranking of how carbs affect blood sugar) still makes it a healthy choice for most people.
Extreme cold, heat, drought or too much irrigation, or even a lack of plant nutrients, excessive pest infestation or disease can all create these elevated levels of cucurbitacin in the squash resulting in a bitter flavor.
Brown Nicely When cooking summer squash, don't be afraid of a little browning. A nicely browned surface adds great flavor. 5. Partner Strategically Finally, balance squash's milder taste with stronger flavors like chilies, curry, ginger, garlic, lemon, goat cheese and so on.
Microwave Hack for Easier Butternut Squash Peeling
Simply slice off the top and bottom, poke the squash all over with a fork and microwave it on high for about 3 minutes. When it's cool enough to handle, peel the squash. The softened flesh will make peeling (and slicing) way easier.
That's right, you can eat butternut squash raw (yep, we said it). Raw butternut squash is carrot-like and holds up well in crunchy salads and slaws. If opting for raw squash over cooked squash, start by peeling away the tough outer skin (FYI, you can eat the skin when it's cooked.
Just like other squashes such as courgettes or pumpkins, dogs can eat butternut squash. In fact, butternut squash is one of the most nutritious and delicious fruits for dogs and it's perfectly safe for them to eat regularly.
Mushy veggies are also often the result of overcooking. When the interior is loaded with moisture, you have to cook it for much longer to evaporate all of the water and avoid the interior having the unappealing, spongy, raw texture that eggplant and zucchini are notorious for.
A low-and-slow cooking technique is excellent for vegetables like carrots, beets or potatoes that you plan to puree into soup. But, they'll turn out soft and soggy instead of crispy and caramelized. The solution: Turn the oven temperature up to 400°F to 425°F.
Far, far, far and away the most common are watering issues. If the soil dries out too much between irrigations, or if it stays too wet, it interferes with root function and water uptake and the plant will pull water from the fruit, resulting in soft 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.
Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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Prep Time: 10 mins
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