Move Over Tomatoes - It's Time for Butternut Squash - Video Podcast

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Finally, an answer to the question, "What the heck do I do with this butternut squash?"Host Evan Kleiman shows you how to roast it to soft delicousness and then layer it with fontina cheese, bechamel sauce and no-bake lasagna noodles.  You will love the results of this nutty, luscious dish.

Butternut Squash–Fontina Lasagna

  • 1 medium sized butternut squash
  • 2 lb Italian Fontina, cut into slices
  • Grated Parmesan
  • No-boil lasagna noodles
  • 4 cups béchamel sauce (see recipe below)

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Place on lined baking sheet, cut side down. Bake until soft, approximately 45 minutes at 375°-400°.

When the squash is very soft, remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. When cool enough to handle, scrape the flesh from the skin and place in bowl.

Run the lasagna rectangles under cold water then make a layer of them in a baking dish. Dot the cooked squash on top of the pasta layers. Drizzle a healthy amount of béchamel over all. Add a sparse dotted layer of fontina, then sprinkle grated parmesan. Continue layering in the same fashion until you have two to three layers of squash, fontina, béchamel and parmesan. End with a layer of pasta, béchamel and parmesan. For more detailed directions Watch the Video.

Bake covered at 375° until hot through. Remove foil and let top layer color until golden brown.

Béchamel Sauce
Makes 2 cups
Double recipe for the lasagna

  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups hot milk
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the flour and stir to form a smooth paste. (Those angled wooden spatulas are great for this because you can really scrape the bottom of the pan and prevent burning.) Heat the milk in a separate saucepan or the mcrowave.. When it is hot but not boiling pour it into the roux ( the butter-flour mixture), stirring constantly with a whisk. Make sure you get into all the edges of the pan to coax all the roux into the milk. Cook over low heat until the sauce thickens and the flour taste is gone. Add salt and pepper to taste.