Butternut Squash Gratin

Submitted by beskra

"I serve this every Thanksgiving and everybody comes back for seconds"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 10mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 10

ingredients

• 3 (12 ounce) boxes frozen squash, thawed & drained (I use Birds Eye) or 3 lbs butternut squash, peeled,seeded & cut in cubes
• 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten

• Topping

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

directions

1. If using fresh squash, steam for 15 minutes until tender.
2. Puree cooked squash in food processor along with sugar.
3. Drain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing down occasionally.
4. Melt butter and stir in flour until smooth, stirring for one minute.
5. Whisk in milk until smooth.
6. Add bay leaf, salt pepper, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, stirring over low heat 10 minutes.
7. Let cool.
8. Remove bay leaf.
9. Whisk eggs into squash.
10. Whisk in cooled white sauce.
11. Transfer mixture to a 2 quart baking dish and spray dish with nonstick cooking spray.
12. Smooth top.
13. (Can be made two days ahead at this point and refrigerate).
14. Bake in lower third of oven for 35 minutes at 350 degrees or longer if refrigerated or until center is set.
15. Prepare topping: heat butter over low heat.
16. Stir in sugar and cook 5 minutes.
17. Stir in walnuts and sprinkle over baking dish for last 10 minutes of cooking.

Reviews

[SecretCooker]

It is more of a dessert than a squash side dish. It had a texture like pie filing, which my guests did not like. Everyone barely touched it. This would make a good squash pie.

 

[Amy - Ellie's Mommie]

This will be a new Thanksgiving tradition in our house! It tastes like pumpkin pie in a bowl! This was the first leftover to be eaten up! I love the texture and flavor. The only thing I did different was leave out half the sugar (we're diabetic). I don't think it affected the flavor at all; this was so delicious I ignored the sweet potatoes!

 

[Jim Martin]

This dish is quite easy to prepare. Served it for the first time recently and the entire family loved it. Wonderful flovor.