Roasted Butternut Squash and Herbed Cannellini and Artichokes with Fennel and Parsley Salad

Roasted Butternut Squash and Herbed Cannellini and Artichokes with Fennel and Parsley Salad

Making a healthy vegetarian entrée look like a gourmet dish isn't the result of elaborate and technical procedures. Rather, it's the product of quality ingredients, simple but appealing food combinations, and inviting contrasts in color and texture, all assembled with care, attention, creativity and a love for food. Of course, a fancy menu-style name might impress your guests as well!

Fennel and Parsley Salad

This lovely meal, for example, is no less elegant and delicious for all its true simplicity and ease. Tender roasted golden orange butternut squash is mixed with a baked casserole of creamy cannellini beans, delicate artichokes, sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs, and served with a fresh crunchy and slightly tart fennel and parsley salad for a meal that is stunning for its visual appeal, wonderful taste and wholesome nourishment … all with no more than twenty minutes of preparation, apart from the roasting time, and only a little attention and care during the cooking.

As is so often the case when I cook with squash, this meal was inspired by the fact that I could no longer stand looking at the uncooked squash that I picked up on a whim a little while ago and that just sat forlornly in my pantry ever since. I adapted the recipe itself from one given by a self-described "Dog Shaman" from South Africa who otherwise advocates a vegan diet for dogs. I don't endorse canine veganism myself (and I know my cat would strongly disapprove of a feline equivalent), but I'm quite happy to try his human food.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Herbed Cannellini and Artichokes with Fennel and Parsley SaladRoasted Butternut Squash and Herbed Cannellini and Artichokes with Fennel and Parsley Salad
Recipe by
Published on March 7, 2011

Tender roasted golden orange butternut squash mixed with a baked casserole of creamy cannellini beans, delicate artichokes, sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs, and served with a fresh crunchy and slightly tart fennel and parsley salad

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Salad:
  • 1 fennel bulb, cored, trimmed and sliced
  • 1 large cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • fresh ground black pepper to taste
Squash and cannellini:
  • 1/2 cup dried cannellini beans (1 1/2 cups cooked or 1 14 oz can)
  • 1 butternut squash, halved, seeded and scored into bite-sized pieces
  • olive oil
  • leaves from 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
  • leaves from 1 sprig of fresh thyme, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
  • fresh ground black pepper
Other ingredients:
  • 5 or 6 large oil-marinated artichokes, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • small handful of torn fresh basil leaves, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • olive oil
  • fresh grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
  • Rinse the beans and soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain and add to a medium saucepan. Cover with fresh cold water or vegetable stock, and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are soft. Drain and mash gently with a potato masher. Set aside.

  • Prepare the salad in advance to allow the lemon juice and olive oil to mellow the strong flavour of the fennel. Combine all the salad ingredients in a bowl and toss gently. Set aside at room temperature, tossing again occasionally.

  • Pre-heat an oven to 400°. Prepare the squash by cutting in half lengthwise, scraping out the seeds, and scoring deep crosses at bite-sized (about 1-inch) intervals into the flesh. Place the halves on a baking sheet open side up and drizzle the squash with olive oil, a few sprinkles of water, rosemary, thyme and fresh ground black pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 40 to 50 minutes or until the squash is tender and browned.

  • Meanwhile, combine the beans, artichokes, tomatoes, wine, basil, oregano, salt and pepper in a small oven-safe casserole dish. Drizzle with olive oil. After the squash has been roasting for 10 to 15 minutes, place the casserole dish uncovered in the oven beside the squash and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated and the beans are still moist but not dry. Remove from oven and set aside until the squash is finished.

  • Remove the cooked squash from the shell and stir into the bean mixture. If using, scatter the fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top and place the casserole dish under the broiler for a minute or two to melt the cheese.

  • Toss the fennel and parsley salad one more time and serve with the squash, cannellini and artichoke mixture. For an added special touch, reserve the squash shells and scoop the squash, cannellini and artichoke mixture into the shells for serving.

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Other squash recipes you may enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Eggs on Sunday's Roasted Delicata Squash Stuffed with White Beans and Wilted Spinach with Basil
Caribbean-Style Black Bean & Delicata Squash
Butternut Squash Sambar
Red Bean and Squash Soup

On the top of the reading stack: Victoria by Knut Hamsun

11 comments:

Rico said...

It looks very delicious

Priya Suresh said...

Wat a yummy and filling dish..

Johanna GGG said...

Looks amazing - great for entertaining and looks full of great flavours

Maximinus Thrax said...

Those are some awesome pictures

Anonymous said...

I have been having a butternut squash looking at me from the counter since ages.. There is something in it that makes me lazy, because normally I love cooking with squash. We might have found an agreement with this recipe. Thanks!

The Food Hunter said...

This is the perfect meal for my meat free lunches

Unknown said...

wow, that looks absolutely awesome, love your presentation :)

Nadia said...

Hi there! Just wanted to let you know I nominated you for a Stylish Blogger award! :) http://modestimages.blogspot.com/2011/03/blogger-award.html

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

That looks rather special Lisa :)

Laura @MotherWouldKnow said...

I love fennel and squash - this looks like a fabulous way to combine them in a main course. Thanks for stopping by our Happy Holidays Link Party - be sure to join us again this week (beginning on Saturday at 7 pm ET) and every week through the holidays.

Unknown said...

Absolutely delicious!!!!!!!!! the family all loved it.