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Braised Butternut Squash with Dried Apricots, Raisins, and Madras Spices

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 14, 2011

Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 6 as a side dish

Braised Butternut Squash with Dried Apricots, Raisins, and Madras Spices

Ingredients

¼ cup dark raisins ¼ cup dried apricots, cut into ¼-inch strips½ cup dry red wine 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 1 medium clove garlic, minced1 large Spanish onion, chopped coarse1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch dice1 serrano chile, or jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced (can use more if desired)1 ½ pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch chunks1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon brown mustard seed 2 teaspoons curry powder 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth Salt and ground black pepper ½ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Soak raisins and apricots in wine; set aside.
  2. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic; sauté until fragrant but not brown, about 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high; add onion, peppers (sweet and hot), and squash. Sauté until squash starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add dried fruit, wine, and spices; cook to blend flavors, about 1 minute. Add stock, bring to simmer.
  3. Cover skillet and braise vegetables in oven until squash is tender but not mushy, 10 to 12 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper; garnish with cilantro.
Braised Butternut Squash with Dried Apricots, Raisins, and Madras Spices

Braised Butternut Squash with Dried Apricots, Raisins, and Madras Spices

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 6 as a side dish

Ingredients

¼ cup dark raisins
¼ cup dried apricots, cut into ¼-inch strips
½ cup dry red wine
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 large Spanish onion, chopped coarse
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch dice
1 serrano chile, or jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced (can use more if desired)
1 ½ pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch chunks
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon brown mustard seed
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Salt and ground black pepper
½ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

¼ cup dark raisins
¼ cup dried apricots, cut into ¼-inch strips
½ cup dry red wine
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 large Spanish onion, chopped coarse
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch dice
1 serrano chile, or jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced (can use more if desired)
1 ½ pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch chunks
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon brown mustard seed
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Salt and ground black pepper
½ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

¼ cup dark raisins
¼ cup dried apricots, cut into ¼-inch strips
½ cup dry red wine
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 large Spanish onion, chopped coarse
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch dice
1 serrano chile, or jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced (can use more if desired)
1 ½ pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch chunks
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon brown mustard seed
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Salt and ground black pepper
½ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

When developing recipes for winter squash and root vegetables, we found that braising enhanced their deep flavors.

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Soak raisins and apricots in wine; set aside.
  2. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic; sauté until fragrant but not brown, about 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high; add onion, peppers (sweet and hot), and squash. Sauté until squash starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add dried fruit, wine, and spices; cook to blend flavors, about 1 minute. Add stock, bring to simmer.
  3. Cover skillet and braise vegetables in oven until squash is tender but not mushy, 10 to 12 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper; garnish with cilantro.

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