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Dietitian Illustrated

Butternut Squash Gratin

Author
Published on:
Published in: Dinner

recipe

Butternut squash never tasted so good.

First, rosemary and garlic work in delicious harmony, then a crispy parmesan-breadcrumb crust comes in to seal the deal. Meet your new favourite way to eat squash.

  • 1/4 Cup Olive Oil + Additional to Grease Casserole Dish
  • 1/4 Cup Butter, Melted
  • 1 Medium Butternut Squash, Sliced Thinly
  • 2-3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
  • 2 Cups Cheddar Cheese, Grated
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • Ground Black Pepper to Taste
  • 1/2 tsp Fresh Rosemary, Finely Chopped
  • 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
  • 2/3 Cup Breadcrumbs
  • 1/3 Cup Parmesan, Grated
  • Optional: Chives to Garnish
Cream Sauce
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 1/4 Cup Cream
  • Salt + Pepper to Taste
  • 1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese, Grated
  • 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  1. Preheat oven to 350F and grease a casserole dish (size of dish will depend on the size of your squash).
  2. Slice Butternut Squash thinly and add to a large bowl. 
  3. Mix squash with Butter, Oil, Garlic, Spices, Salt/Pepper, Rosemary, and Cornstarch until squash is evenly coated.
  4. In the greased casserole dish, assemble squash slices in layers, alternating with a layer of Cheddar Cheese between each layer of squash.
  5. Prepare Cream Sauce by adding Milk, Cream, Salt/Pepper, and Sugar into a saucepan. Stir the mixture on medium heat for about 2-3 minutes, allowing the mixture to heat evenly and the sugar to dissolve. Be careful not to burn the milk.
  6. Mix in Cheddar Cheese, stirring to melt. Remove saucepan from heat and pour evenly over the assembled casserole dish.
  7. Cook uncovered for about 1 hr 10 minutes, until squash is fully cooked (i.e. a toothpick can move through the dish easily).
  8. Remove dish from oven and sprinkle the Parmesan-Breadcrumb mixture evenly on top.
  9. Place dish back into the oven and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes, until mixture browns and crust forms.
  10. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes, serve and garnish with Chives (optional).
  1. No need to cut away the skin! With the added liquids and extended baking time, the skin creates subtle texture nuances that enhance the overall dish.
  2. For more garlicy flavour, rub the casserole dish with a slice of garlic before assembling the ingredients into the dish.
  3. Plan your casserole layers to end with a layer of cheddar cheese on top. This will allow the breadcrumb crust to adhere to the dish better.