Christmas is in the air and a butternut squash parmigiana
This will be the first Christmas post, and it might be the first of many more Christmas related posts, believe me. I started to breath a Christmas air even before I opened the first window of the Advent Calendar. Maybe it was because of a short trip to the local Ikea, where I first smelled the festive atmosfere – along with cinnamon and cardamom from the fragrant kanelbullar – I saw the first lights and decorations, but mostly red and white paper and ribbons to wrap your gifts.
Now I’m writing this post with Christmas music in the background, a green tea with cinnamon and orange peel that has an evocative name that leaves little to the imagination – Christmas tea – and at the same time I’m munching on almond and chocolate tiny cookies, something you will hear about soon.
If I have to find another reason for this Christmas feeling ahead of time, well movies would be the first thing that comes to my mind. As in every other area of my life, from career aspirations to romantic fantasies, movies have greatly influenced my expectations and my imaginary about Christmas.
My favourite Christmas movies
For ten years now, Love Actually has been the movie which opened my Christmas marathon, the first movie I watch when it is five weeks to Christmas to meet the deadlines given by the stories intertwined with laughter, perfect songs and a cast that includes many of my favourite actors. As every year two weeks ago it was the perfect time for Love Actually, watching the dvd curled under a double duvet and dreaming about London. My romantic side comes out with also with The holiday: I found the English cottage of my dreams in this movie, right there at the end of a country road with a nice fence and white snow to frame the roof.
Add to the list Home Alone, a must for the days leading up to Christmas, it makes me a feel like a child again, each time I enjoy it, just like the first time. Another movie of my childhood which helped me to believe in the magic of Christmas is Miracle on 34th street. The closest to Christmas I get, the more films I watch, from Disney cartoon movies to every single romantic comedy on tv, new and old, as long as there’s Jingle bells singing, snow and a trimmed tree.
Butternut squash parmigiana
Today I am sharing with you a butternut squash parmigiana, a tasty gratin. You know that eggplant parmigiana is my favourite dish. If I could, I would it eat it all year round in spite of the season. Well, I found a worthy substitute that does not make me regret the eggplant!
The baked squash is quick to prepare and if you brush thin slices with extra virgin olive oil they’ll become crisp, keeping a soft and sweet heart, just like the eggplant slices you would fry at the end of summer. Then you proceed as in the most classic of parmigiana: a good tomato sauce, pieces of mozzarella torn with your hands and heaping tablespoons of parmigiano reggiano. Be generous, please.
Make the butternut squash parmigiana in advance, then you just have to reheat it a few minutes before bringing it to the table. And as in the case of a classical parmigiana or lasagna, taste and texture will get better the day after.
Butternut squash parmigiana
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share by EmailIngredients
- 600 g butternut squash
- Flour , to dust the butternut squash
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 400 g tomato passata
- 1 clove garlic
- Salt
- 300 g mozzarella, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 100 g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Heat oven to 190°C (375°F). Slice the squash thinly, dust with flour and lay on a single layer into a baking tray greased with olive oil. Brush the butternut squash with extra virgin olive oil and bake for about 35 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Meanwhile, prepare the tomato sauce. Heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil with a clove of garlic and add the tomato passata. Cook on low heat for about ten minutes, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt.
- Now it's time to make the parmigiana.
- Start with the baked butternut squash slices, add mozzarella, a good sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano and a few tablespoons of tomato sauce. Make three layers and top with tomato sauce, mozzarella and a generous sprinkling of Parmigiano.
- Finish with a beaten egg, and squash the parmigiana with a fork to compact the layers.
- Bake the parmigiana for about 30 minutes, until golden. Butternut squash parmigiana is even better the day after, gently reheated until the cheese is melting.
Watch also the video recipe…
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A delightful dish! I love Xmas, but thsi year I have problems tuning in… I gues it has to do with the fact that time passes way too fast.
Cheers,
Rosa
I had the same problem in the last years, but this year everything is so Christmassy that I can’t stop singing Jingle bells the whole day! 😛
I love your choice of holiday movies-they’re on mine, too! And since butternut squash is a favorite, this is a very unique sounding recipe to try…
Thank you Laney, do you have other film to add to the list?!
Can’t wait to try this. Put up lights and got cards and tomorrow I start making cookies! I do love this time of year!
Lights!? Already?! I’d better hurry up!
Love Christmas spirit, yet to put out my tree.
This dish screams of celebration.
Thank you Ash!
I love the holiday atmosphere in the photos! I’m really happy that the Christmas season is here. This gratin is a perfect way to start it.
I so would love to see the Christmas season in Finland, it has to be amazing!
Home alone was a favourite in my house as well, along with the Neverending story and ET! This dish looks so wonderful, I would very much love some right now to warm me 🙂
Neverending story, right! I used to love it as a child!
Grazie Julia foe a fun blog , love your recepies . I live in Cape Town SA .
Grazie Maria, a warm wish from Tuscany to Cape Town!
We’ve had this recipe on repeat since I read this post! Tonight we ate it as leftovers with grilled bread and a roasted fennel sausage on the side. So, so good!!
Oh Chelsea, this is great! this makes me so happy! and what a fantastic pairing with a roasted fennel sausage!