Sunday, November 20, 2011

Winter Squash Pizza Bake


Sliding in at the end of Orange Skies week at I Heart Cooking Clubs with this Winter Squash Pizza Bake.  For Orange Skies week we were to use an orange fruit or vegetable recipe, and I've had my eye on the recipe for Winter Squash Pizza in Tessa's book Apples for Jam since I first flipped through it a few months ago.  I love squash and pizza and this recipe just plain old sounded good to me. 

Winter Squash Pizza
Tessa Kiros -- Apples for Jam, page 82

1/2 small winter squash (I used a butternut squash)
salt
5 to 8 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup all purpose flour, for dusting -- I only needed about 1/2 cup
1 - 8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 to 2 teaspoons dried oregano -- I used an Italian seasoning spice blend that included oregano
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Peet the winter squash, cut out the seeds and cute the flesh into very thin long slices about 1/16 inch thick. Put the slices in a colander; sprinkle with salt and leave for about 1 hour. Rinse them very well and pat them dry. Preheat oven to 350.


Drizzle 2 and 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil into a round 10 or 12 inch baking pan (I used a 10 inch springform pan) and spread it to coat the bottom of the pan. Put the flour on a plate and pat both sides of the squash slices in it. Make a slightly overlapping layer of slices in the baking pan. Trickle the tiniest bit of olive oil over this layer; then repeat the layering and oiling until you have used up all the squash -- you should have four or five layers.


Mix a little salt into the tomato sauce (taste first and make sure extra salt is needed!) and dot here and there over the top of the squash.  Put into the oven and bake for about 50 minutes, until the bottom is sizzling and the top is turning quite golden. Scatter the oregano over the top, crushing it between your fingers.


Sprinkle with the mozzarella and return to the oven for 5 or 10 minutes, until the cheese melts and browns slightly.  I broiled for a touch at the end to brown the cheese.


Cool a little before serving in wedges like pizza.   


I thought this was pretty good.  I'm not quite sure about the "wedges like pizza" because the squash was very thoroughly cooked (meaning mushy, as squash gets) by the end of the 60 minutes in the oven.  The edges were a little crispy with the cheese, but this was more of a scoop and use a fork kind of dish.  I thought this would have been great served with some crusty bread to serve this on. 

Although I enjoyed this, my kids were not convinced and only had one bite each, the in-house required bite to try something new to see if they like it, and they all apparently didn't...my kids are on an anti-squash kick lately and I'm not sure why since I love all kinds of squash.  Maybe picky daddy's tastes are rubbing off (he is an avid squash hater).   I would say if you love pizza and love squash, as I do, give this a go, but if you are on the fence and don't like the texture of squash maybe this isn't the one to turn you into a squash lover.   I'm glad I tried it and could see making it again if I had some extra squash to use up, I would just be prepared to make a seperate dinner for everyone else :)


10 comments:

NKP said...

What a great idea! I bet Joanne (Eats Well with Others) would be all over this.

Deb in Hawaii said...

I would very happily eat their shares--it looks delicious. ;-)

Heather S-G said...

I've been wanting to make this, as well. It definitely looks gorgeous and whether in slices or scoops...YUM! I don't think my kids would go for it, either.

Olcia said...

Jummy :) maybe I'll try to bake something like this :)

Kim said...

I've been so curious about this recipe, but after cooking squash for 60 minutes in the oven this week I can see that the squash would get somewhat mushy. I think I'd be okay with that, but I'm sure my kids would feel the same way yours did. I do think it's a fun idea though. I'd love to try a scoop!

Flourchild said...

YOu made my morning! I have missed you and Im so happy to hear your going to join up in the new baking group! Did you get your cookbook?
I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!! Im so excited for Christmas morning! I make a big breakfast for the family..it's so fun to be with everyone!

Glen Turnbow said...

All this food looks delicious! I like your site. Your photos are looking good too. I'm excited to look at your blog more.

Glen

http://gtimagery.blogspot.com/

Heather Blackman said...

I assumed my 4-year-old would turn up her nose at this, as with every other squash dish we eat, but she LOVED it. The title "pizza" absolutely convinced her and she asked for leftovers the next day for lunch. The rest of the family liked it too so it'll be repeated for sure. A much-appreciated post.

Unknown said...

this one a creative idea more nutritional value to normal pizza good for Kids

Andrea at Nummy Kitchen said...

Heather,

Thanks for the comment! So glad your daughter liked this dish! Wish my four year old was a fan, will have to give this dish another try since I ended up liking it so much :)

Take care,
Andrea

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