Have you noticed how many varieties of pumpkin and squash there are nowadays? Perhaps it’s because I’ve only recently started to like eating them but I find that every market – even my local – has at least four or five to choose from. I have tried growing squash on the allotment but other than one spaghetti squash last year they’ve all either been eaten or never really grown large enough. Sadly I can blame nothing but myself as my local organic farm, where the below squashes came from, is only a five minute walk from the allotment. Theirs are perfect as you can see.
Working full time during the week means I rarely have time to slow roast vegetables. Today however was a different story. It’s been a constant drizzle all day and it’s bitterly cold. None of us have wanted to leave the house. Not because of the cold I might add but because we have a wonderful new addition to our family.
This is Pip. She’s about 10 weeks old and we are all smitten. We’re getting to know her and she us but I think we all have one thing in common and that’s eating! She has a ferocious appetite! Not for pumpkins and squashes I might add!
So as the girls spent the afternoon cuddling and playing with Pip, I put the oven on low and popped our late lunch in. I settled on the orange squash above in tribute to the Little Ginger as I call her. This autumnal gem was in our Enfield Veg Co delivery a couple of weeks ago. It’s called a Potimarron and is great for baking. It has a nutty flavour and the skin softens beautifully in the oven.
- 2 large Potimarron squashes or 2 Butternut squashes
- 3 tbsp sunflower or rapeseed oil
- 5-6 tbsp dukkah
- 500g frozen broad beans
- 3 tbsp of your favourite vinaigrette
- 100g chopped finely chopped parsley
- 200g feta
- Put the broadbeans into a pan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Cook for about 2 minutes and then drain. Next preheat the oven to 180C for a quick roast and 80C for a slower roast. The slow roast just caramelizes the vegetables a bit more.
- Wash the squashes well and then cut them, skin on, into 3cm chunks. Toss them in the oil and then roast them for about 20 minutes for a quick roast at 180C and about 45 minutes for a slower roast at 80C. Check them often to make sure you don't over roast them. You want some bite. Once cooked transfer them to a bowl and sprinkle over the dukkah. Toss so that all the pieces are evenly coated and then pour them onto your salad platter.
- Put the broad beans into a bowl. Pour on the vinaigrette and chopped parsley. Mix well and then pour the beans on top of the squash. Finally crumble over the feta and top with more dukkah if you wish.
The salad didn’t last long. I think my girls were keen to get back to Pip more than anything else.
PIN THE AUTUMNAL SQUASH, BROAD BEAN AND FETA SALAD RECIPE FOR LATER
Oh my goodness, how cute is Pip? No wonder your girls adore her. I’m a recent convert to squash but am loving all the variations of offer this year.
I must confess. I was very nervous about having an animal in the house. Never had pets growing up. But we are all smitten with this little kitten. And you should try that variety of squash if you can still find it. It’s such a lovely colour after roasting.
Loving the new blog, it looks so clean and fresh. Beautiful salad, I wish we could get all those squashes where I live, one of the drawbacks of living in rural Scotland, but there are many advantages.
Thank you Janice. I would love to visit rural Scotland. I used to go out to edinburgh often for work and one of our offices was about an hour into the countryside. So stunning seeing the mountains in the background every day
She’s so adorable! Love your new family member too, want to come and meet her!
I’m such a big fan of squashes, we were blown away by one place we visited in Canada where they had maybe 30 different types of pumpkins and squashed on sale! Wish I could find some of those here!
You’re welcome to come anytime and play with Pip! Some of them are so pretty but I find they have very little flesh inside to eat. I wonder if there is a way of finding out which are like butternut with nice thick flesh an which are the more decorative