Friday, November 19, 2010

E: Butternut Squash with Black Beans and Walnuts

Happy Friday! What are your weekend plans? Outside the usual stuff, Josh and I are going up to my parents house for some brunch action. Other than that? Pretty open :)

Yesterday, I shared with you the dessert I will be making for Thanksgiving dinner and today, I am sharing the side dish. Since I am a vegetarian, I decided to make a side dish that packed some protein. When I found this recipe for butternut squash with black beans and walnuts, I knew this would be the one.  I did a test run, to make sure it would turn out as I had hoped. I made a few modifications, but nothing major.

Ingredients:

squash 001

  • 2 cups Butternut Squash/Pumpkin peeled and cubed ( I cheated and purchased pre-peeled/cubed and just cut them down a bit)
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 hot green pepper, diced
  • 1.5  cups cooked black beans ( I used canned)
  • 1 Teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 cups spinach (I added this in for the test run only but don’t plan to use it on Thanksgiving)
  • 3 Tablespoons lightly toasted walnuts
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish (I did not use this in my test run)

Directions:

Heat oil, caraway seeds and hot pepper in a thick bottomed pan or skillet; when the seeds sizzle, add the ginger, butternut squash/pumpkin cubes. Increase the heat to high and cook the squash/pumpkins tossing them frequently till they are light brown on the sides.

Now add the beans, red chili powder and 1/4 cup of water to the pan with the squash/pumpkin and cover and cook till the squash/pumpkin cubes are fork tender but firm.

Uncover and check to see if done. If there are any remaining water, increase the heat and let the water dry off. This is a dry dish. Add spinach and allow it to wilt. If done, add the walnuts; toss to combine well.

Finish it off with some fresh lemon juice and fresh chopped cilantro/coriander.

Finished product (pre-walnuts, I made this dish ahead and wanted to add the walnuts at the last minute):

  squash 005

And now, for the winners of the Jessica Seinfeld cookbook giveaway:

Erica from Fashion Meets Food

and

Lauren from Say What You Need to Say

Send me an email at itzyskitchen at gmail dot com with your address and I will get your cookbooks sent out to you! Congrats!!

Don’t forget to join in the December Blogger Baked Goods Exchange!!!

32 comments:

Nisrine said...

Healthy, nutritious and deliicious. I bet it would be good with sweet potatoes too.

Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg said...

This is SUCH a great flavor combination! I love squash with black beans!

Anonymous said...

butternut squash combines really well with black beans! YUM~~
weekend plan= hang out with my hubby and relax!

CaSaundraLeigh said...

Great choice on the side dish! I've never seen pre-cubed bnut squash--that would be oh so convenient :-)

Renee Paj said...

congrats to the winners! Yay!

Recipe looks wonderful!

Britt said...

Interesting combination, I may have to try it!

Very excited to see an old friend this weekend, haven't seen her in well over a year!

lee said...

I have been so insanely busy for the past week that my plans for the weekend are to do absolutely nothing. ANd I'm looking forward to it.

Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather said...

Yummy flavor combos! Butternut squash with just about anything turns out delicious :) Perfect Thanksgiving side.

Michelle @ Find Your Balance said...

It's nice to see caraway seeds get some play :-)

Corey @ the runner's cookie said...

I haven't tried combining squash with beans yet, but that sounds great, especially with the walnuts! I'm thinking you're going to have a tasty thanksgiving :)

Jennie said...

YUM! I do something similar with sweet potatoes, black beans and almonds. Love your version!

Christina said...

love love love this combination!

Faith said...

This is a beauiful dish! I recently had something similar at a restaurant -- they added dried cranberries too for a little sweetness...so delicious! Hope you have a great weekend!

Congrats to the winners!

Dawn Dishes It Out said...

I love butternut squash and black beans together. By far one of the best combos!

Jenna said...

It's been farrr too long since I've had black beans! What a great pair with a seasonal favorite.

Nutmeg Nanny said...

This looks great! I love the mix of black beans and butternut squash. Such a super healthy combo :)

Krista said...

That sounds like a great side dish, Erica! Have a wonderful weekend!

Heather said...

I love, love, love butternut squash and black beans together (same with sweet potatoes and black beans)!!

Lots of gym and training this weekend, otherwise I hope to get some extra sleep. Have a great Friday!

erica said...

You honestly make me want to be a vegetarian. I only really eat chicken... the meat here is absolutely disgusting. Whenever I go home to Michigan i`ll eat other meat like ham but its nothing that i cannot live without. I am really thinking about becoming a vegetarian I think it would make my body feel so much better.

Also I am so excited to have won your giveaway!

xo

Joyce Cherrier said...

Looks so yummy & always trying to find squash recipes! Thanks!

Stephanie @cookinfanatic said...

squash + black beans is definitely a winner! love the addition of the walnuts for some "crunch" :)

Paige is Running Around Normal said...

What a great dish to bring! I still haven't quite decided what I'm going to bring. I'm thinking maybe portabello lasagna rollups??

Liz said...

I love anything with Black Beans! Just came across your blog and I love that you write it together! That's a cool twist! I am a South Carolina blogger, too! I'll definitely be back to visit again.

BroccoliHut said...

Yum, yum! I love black beans and sweet potatoes together, so I bet butternut squash is phenomenal!

Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) said...

This looks great! Love all the colors! We always have butternut squash as a side dish at Thanskgiving, but it's pureed butternut squash with cinnamon sprinkled on top! I'll have to try this dish one day! Might be fun to switch it up a bit!

Anonymous said...

Erica, I think you might be my sister from another mister! LOL. I teach group fitness classes, too. I'm adding you guys to my Google Reader! The Christmas Show is worth the drive. SO much fun.

teresa said...

oh yum, so delicious and healthy. i adore butternut squash!

Pound said...

i love butternut squash about any way!

love me some brunch action -- had a pumpkin bread pudding that was sinful this morning!

Judy said...

Oh this is such a nice recipe. Can't wait to give it a try.

Simply Life said...

YUM! I really want to try this! It has all my favorite fall ingredients!

Chef Fresco said...

Perfect combo of ingredients! Looks delicious!

Natalie said...

Erica!! Such a great side dish! I can't wait to try this!