Vegetarian Squash Casserole Recipe (2024)

Vegetarian Squash Casserole Recipe (1)

By: Matt Frazier

15-Mile Run

To cap off Week 2 of my training for Wineglass (14 weeks left!), I did my 15-miler today. I had planned to do it yesterday at a really flat trail near school, but a meeting with my thesis advisor ran way long and by the time I finished I was too mentally exhausted to get psyched up for a long run. So I did it this morning, which throws off my schedule just a bit, but I have a race this weekend so I’ll need to juggle it anyway.

Worse than the scheduling issue, though, is that I did this run near home, which means (as always) that it was very hilly. I managed to maintain the scheduled 8:00 per-mile pace for 13 miles; the hills caught up with me on the last two and I lost about a minute between them. So I finished in 2:01 rather than two hours flat, but I’m sure that the difficult course more than compensates for that lost minute. I do worry a little about training on hills so much though, just because I know that harder workouts mean greater chance of injury. Since my marathon isn’t hilly, I’m going to make an effort to ensure that anything longer than 15 miles is run on flat terrain.

By the way, as I write this I’m wearing a pair of compression Recovery Socks that the company sent me to try out. People say they’ve worked wonders for them, so I’m really interested to see how I feel tomorrow. I’ll fill you in tomorrow and give you some more details about the socks, in case you haven’t heard of them yet. Stylish huh?

Vegetarian Squash Casserole Recipe (2)

Squash Casserole with Lemon and Feta

We scored some beautiful yellow squash and zucchini this week at the farmers market, which prompted a search for some way to actually use the stuff. For whatever reason, maybe the texture, I’ve never really cooked very much with squash. So I found a recipe in The America’s Test Kitchen Family CookbookVegetarian Squash Casserole Recipe (3) for this squash casserole. As an aside, I love this book. Not so much for the recipes as for the reference material. Whenever I need to look up a substitution or how to prepare or cook with a new ingredient, this is where I go. Sometimes even before I head to the Google/Twitter-machine.

Vegetarian Squash Casserole Recipe (4)I was worried that the recipe would be a little boring (“casserole” makes me want to take a nap), but the feta and lemon zest seemed interesting enough, so we gave it a whirl. And I must say we were pleasantly surprised. The baked, browned feta worked really nicely with the squash, and the carmelized onion was my favorite part. This isn’t a mind-blowing, so-good-you-stuff-yourself-and-induce-a-food-coma meal, but for what it is, it was really nice. A light summery meal made from local, seasonal ingredients, with a little bit of flair (three pieces of flair, if you count the fresh oregano). We served it with quinoa to get some protein and more complex carbs, and it was a pretty good match. Here ya go, knock yourself out. Note that it takes 45 minutes in the oven, so leave yourself some time.

Yellow Squash Casserole Recipe (adapted from America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook)

Ingredients (for 6 servings)

  • 3 Tbsp canola oil
  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced (we used elephant garlic from the market)
  • 1/2 C dry white wine
  • 1/2 C vegetable stock or broth
  • Fresh oregano leaves from one large sprig, minced
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 4 small yellow squash, cut into 1/4 inch slices
  • 2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch slices
  • salt
  • pepper
  • crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 C crumbled feta cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Heat 2 Tbsp canola oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion with a few pinches of salt and a small pinch of crushed red pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring once in a while, so that it gets some nice dark carmelization. After the onion is nicely browned, spread it in a single layer in a 9×13 baking pan.

Add the rest of the oil and garlic to the pan. Once it’s fragrant (don’t let it burn), add the wine, vegetable broth, oregano, and lemon zest. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.

Lay the squash and zucchini nicely on top of the onion, pour the contents of the pan on top, and top with crumbled feta. Bake for about 45 minutes, until just starting to brown.

Vegetarian Squash Casserole Recipe (5)

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  • Wow! That looks incredible! And what a great use for the squash I’m sure will continue to flood farmers markets through the summer. I will definitely be trying this sometime soon!
    .-= Amy Reinink´s last blog ..When motivation shows up late to the party =-.

    Reply

  • Excellent job on that run today! You are well on your way! I love that squash recipe. Thanks for sharing. The ones I find are always full of mayo or condensed soup (yikes). This one sounds fresh, light and tasty.
    .-= Lori ´s last blog ..Tangerine Cake and Travel News! =-.

    Reply

  • I have it the same way near where I live…those hilly runs are killers! Mind you, I haven’t done anything longer then 5 miles since before Christmas, but when I was going for longer mileage, I noticed I needed more recovery time when I ran near my house. Ugh…the good news is that when it comes to running on flat terrain, I’m usually feeling pretty good and strong. 😀
    That casserole looks really, really good!! I’m a huge fan of feta cheese on everything and anything, so I’ll have to give it a try. 😀
    .-= Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)´s last blog ..Strawberry Fields Forever =-.

    Reply

  • So…we finished our 30-day no-soda challenge yesterday! I was at a continuing ed seminar for work today so I decided to try a taste of diet co*ke…interestingly enough, it underwhelmed me! It wasn’t the welcome excitement of an old friend like I had expected:) Maybe I’ll feel differently about a fountain soda but, for now, I am not rushing out the door to buy a 12-pack of diet co*ke!

    Reply

    1. Good for you Colleen! Same for me with coffee, not all that exciting the first time I had it again. But I still like it 🙂

      Reply

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    Vegetarian Squash Casserole Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    How does Paula Deen cook squash casserole? ›

    In separate medium size skillet, sauté the sliced onion in butter for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and, using a large bowl, add squash, onions, sour cream, Paula Deen's House Seasoning and sharp cheddar cheese. Pour mixture into a buttered casserole dish and top with cracker crumbs. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

    How do you keep squash casserole from getting watery? ›

    Salting and sautéing the squash before baking helps to remove excess moisture and prevents the casserole from becoming watery. Cream cheese and sour cream lend the filling richness and tang.

    What is squash casserole made of? ›

    The Southern classic combines fresh squash and onion with a creamy sauce and a crunchy cracker-Cheddar cheese topping. Whether you serve this squash casserole as a flavorful side or a veggie-centric main dish, everyone will be begging you to make it again and again for family gatherings, potlucks, and holidays.

    How do you cook and eat squash? ›

    Roasted (or Baked) Yellow Squash

    Cut in half, slice or cut into pieces. Brush with olive oil and season with salt. Place on a single payer on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 400-degrees for 20-25 minutes or until tender. Throw some other veggies on there to make a delicious roasted vegetable medley.

    What is Paula Deen seasoning? ›

    The ingredients listed in order are: "sea salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, granulated onion, ground cumin, and other spices". I have used the recipe listed on this site and included equal amounts of garlic powder and onion powder.

    Should squash be cooked cut side up or down? ›

    Scoop the seeds out, place it cut side down on a pan with sides that has been oiled and cook until tender - a knife inserts through the skin and easily into the flesh. Up and down is the only way to do it correctly. You need to bake it with flat or cut side down to trap the juices in.

    Why is my squash casserole runny? ›

    To prevent your squash casserole from being too watery, it's important to get as much liquid out of the squash during the initial cooking process as possible. Straining the squash helps to remove excess water that leaches out of the cooked squash, and it cools the squash before it is added to the casserole.

    How do you add moisture to a casserole? ›

    Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

    The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

    How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

    To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

    What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

    In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

    How many squash does it take to make 4 cups? ›

    One 1 1/2 pound butternut squash will yield approximately 4 cups of 1/2-inch cubed squash.

    Why cook squash cut side down? ›

    Putting it cut-side down creates a sort-of steam chamber for the flesh, helping it cook faster and retain moisture (no dried out squash here!). If you've added oil to the flesh before cooking, it will brown nicely where it's in contact with the sheet pan.

    What is the healthiest way to eat squash? ›

    You can bake or roast it in your oven and top it off with either savory or sweet seasonings. Cinnamon can add sweetness to acorn squash while still being nutritious – or even dessert. You can even eat the skin for added fiber.

    How did the Indians cook squash? ›

    Mature squash were often baked whole in the coals of a fire, or sliced and boiled. Strips of squash were laid in the sun to dry and then stored for use in winter.

    Do you have to peel yellow squash before you eat it? ›

    Wash squash and cut off ends before eating. The peel is edible and mild. Squash can be eaten raw or cooked.

    How to cook butternut squash Paula Deen? ›

    directions
    1. In a medium saucepan combine squash, onions, carrots,broth, and salt. Simmer, uncovered, until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.
    2. Puree soup in a blender or food processor with the butter. Whisk cream into soup. Serve in wide, shallow bowls with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

    How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? ›

    In a large bowl mix the cubed squash, garlic cloves and ginger with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the spice mix. Season with salt and pepper and scatter in a single layer in a roasting tray. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes until tender all the way through.

    Why is my zucchini casserole watery? ›

    Mistake # 1: It's watery

    Squash contains a lot of water, so you need to do a little prep work to mitigate for that. After slicing the squash, salt the slices and place them on a paper-towel lined baking sheet. Let it sit for 30 minutes so that the salt can draw out some of its water.

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