If you’re someone who likes to get creative in the kitchen and try out new things, sometime it can be difficult to know where to start or how to experiment without ruining your dinner for that evening. A wonderful way to start is to take something you already know, and give it a little twist.
I love beer can chicken. It’s a neat technique that steams the inside of the bird with the moisture of beer while the outside get nice and crispy. I thought to myself, what else can I cook in this method with a beer can or bottle? The answer is some nice seasonal squash.
So I took a butternut squash, peeled it, removed the bottom for a more secure base and to get to the seeds. I scooped out the seeds with an ice cream scoop and hallowed out a little bit from the neck of the squash.
Then I rubbed the outside of the squash with equal parts grapeseed oil and tomato paste to act as glue for a nice spice rub. You can use anything you have one hand, I used equal parts brown sugar and salt with a few teaspoons of smoky paprika for a nice BBQ vibe and some cumin.
I found these these tiny cute little beer bottles at my local corner store, but the only requirement is a beer you like and that also fits up your squash. I dumped a big splash of beer into the bottom of the dish I was using, which will prevent any spices that slide off from burning as well as gives you something to baste your squash with.
Bake for about 45 minutes at 350 and toward the end of cooking, baste a little with the drippings in the bottom of your baking dish. Your squash is done when a paring knife cuts through with little resistance.
Be very careful taking the squash in and out of the oven as it’s a little top heavy. Slice and serve your butternut squash as a hearty side or as a lovely main.
If you end up making this or something like it, please tag us in Instagram or take a photo with our new app and post it the next time you are in our stores!
If you want to learn how to work with butternut and other seasonal squashes, don't miss The Chopping Block's hands on cooking class The Great Pumpkin coming up on Sunday, November 19 at 11am at our Merchandise Mart location.
