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December 3, 2008
Grilled Butternut Squash w/Sweet Potatoes and Pine Nuts
I've really gotten to appreciate what grilling does for vegetables. I've been a big proponent of grilling meat for a long time, roasting lots of peppers and ears of corn, but being married to a vegetarian by preference, and a reluctant carnivore, it's broadened my repertoire of veggie dishes considerably.
We've been grilling sweet potatoes for a few years now, so this year in lieu of my beloved mashed potatoes and stuffing we opted for something healthier. I sliced a sweet potato, a butternut squash which I then peeled with a vegetable peeler. I also added half an onion and most of a head of garlic.
Once I had the first round of charcoal hot, I carmelized everything:
Unfortunately, my indirect setup for the turkey wasn't going to do the trick, so I placed the garlic on the fire, and brushed most of the coals directly underneath the veggies.
Once the had some great color and were starting to soften, I brought everything inside, chopped everything, added lots of toasted pine nuts, and finished it in the oven, adding a bit of butter and some chopped parsley.
It was a really great dish, and tasted just great with the Butterflied Smoked Turkey.
Posted by The Pragmatic Chef at December 3, 2008 7:09 PM
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Comments
I think that'll be my new political party: Reluctant Carnivore. :)
Posted by: Julie at December 4, 2008 9:19 AM
I never would have thought about grilling yams or butternut squash! They take forever to get tender. Your dish certainly does make my mouth water, though! Next time you cook this dish, call me!!! I'm coming over!
Posted by: SistyUgler at December 4, 2008 5:18 PM
They do take a long time, SistyUgler, which is why I cubed them after they carmelized, then finished them in the oven. You'd have to chop them into much thinner pieces if you were going to finish them on the grill.
When I grill sweet potatoes, I generally slice them into long, about 1/2" slices, zap them in the microwave until they start to soften, then grill them until they're done.
I'll make it next year, book a flight!
Posted by: the pragmatic chef™ at December 4, 2008 7:04 PM
i do sweet potatoes on the grill just like baked potatoes in alum. foil. works great. i will have to try squash the same way i think...
Posted by: michael j huber at December 4, 2008 8:16 PM
HEY -- I just have ONE question: do you have a brother? k. let me know. = ]
Posted by: Citlali at December 5, 2008 7:33 PM
HA! I do, Citlali, and he's a good cook in own right. He's more the meat and potatoes type, though, and he's been married a lot longer than I have...
Posted by: the pragmatic chef™ at December 6, 2008 6:11 AM