Ginger Beer-Glazed Butternut Squash With Gremolata 

Ginger Beer-Glazed Butternut Squash With Gremolata 
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
30 minutes
Rating
4(385)
Notes
Read community notes

While most winter squash recipes call for roasting the firm vegetable until nutty and caramelized, this recipe highlights the vegetable’s creamy texture and sweet notes by simmering it in ginger beer until supple. Like many glazed recipes, this one showcases the beauty of great timing: When the squash is done cooking, the liquid will have reduced to a glossy sauce (provided you’ve cut the squash into 1-inch pieces). Topping the mixture with a confetti-like gremolata of chopped ginger, garlic, parsley and orange zest turns this into a cold-weather side that sparkles.

Featured in: The Best Vegetarian Thanksgiving Looks as Good as It Tastes

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
  • Print Options


Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:8 servings
  • 2cups ginger beer
  • ¾cup vegetable stock, plus more if needed
  • 1medium (3-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch jewel-shaped chunks
  • 3tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1tablespoon honey
  • teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
  • 2tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • ½teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
  • ¼teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic
  • ¼teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

96 calories; 4 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 15 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 9 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 355 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Add the ginger beer and stock to a large, deep skillet. Bring to a boil over high.

  2. Step 2

    Add the squash in an even layer. Top with the butter, honey and cloves (if using), and season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender and the sauce thickens to a glaze, about 25 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    While squash simmers, prepare the gremolata: Chop the parsley, ginger, garlic and orange zest together until thoroughly combined.

  4. Step 4

    Once the squash is tender and the sauce has reduced to a glaze, give it a taste and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the squash to a wide, shallow bowl. Sprinkle with the gremolata and serve.

Ratings

4 out of 5
385 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Do you think this could be made ahead, al dente... reheated to complete and then topped with the herbs?

FYI One 3 pound butternut squash makes 4-1/2 cups of cut up squash. One cup of cut up squash yields 2/3 pound. Just in case you wanted to buy the already cut up squash.

Made this using one of the treasured Blenheim spicy ginger ales we had on hand. It took longer to cook than the recipe suggested, but that can happen due to various sized squash. It took time to carefully dice the squash compared to our usual easy to roast efforts. It never did get to syrupy even after an hour of simmering in a large skillet. The squash did not seem to embody the ginger flavor we wanted, especially after the coughing fit from heating the gingery ale! I would not make this again.

Ginger beer is similar to ginger ale but with a much more intense ginger flavor. It is hard to find in some areas, but since it is used in some mixed drinks, you might try looking in a liquor store that sells mixers.

Can this be made ahead of time and reheated?

I found the liquid evaporated before the squash was fully cooked. I would cook covered for the first 15 minutes to infuse the squash with the ginger beer flavor (BTW it is alcoholic in the UK) and uncover for the last 10 minutes to allow the liquid to reduce. Also popped it under the broiler for 5 minutes before serving to crisp up the edges. Delish!

I used an old trick for cutting winter squash: wash the squash and leave the outside wet. Put in the microwave for about 3 minutes. This softens the rind enough to make cutting it into 1" slices much easier and safer. Then I trimmed the rind off and cut into diamonds. It smells good, I'll see how it turns out. Making the squash today and the gremolata fresh on Thursday.

Costco carries Bundaberg Ginger Beer - don’t worry about having to buy the 12-pack - it is addicting!!

Fevertree makes an excellent ginger beer which is a component of making a Moscow or Kentucky Mule drink.

This was tasty but my sauce was not syrupy. I will place it under the broiler at the end next time. The gremolata was tasty with the fresh ginger and the orange rind.

Yes, this can be made with sweet potatoes. Increased other ingredients by about a third, while keeping the same weight of sweet potato as squash. Used ginger beer. It is wonderfully delicious!

Loved this, but cooked it slightly differently from the recipe as written. Instead of simmering on medium high, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 25 mins…I simmered the squash on medium, covered, stirring occasionally, for 20 mins. The squash browned up on some of the sides which was lovely, and the sauce was nice and syrupy by the end. Doubled the gremolata because I wanted more garlic heehee

I made it using cut up butternut squash. Followed the recipe faithfully. Had mush. No glaze. Awful. Thought I would try something different and it sent me running back to my faithful air fryer recipe.

I felt there was too much liquid. Squash got very tender well before liquid cooked off. Ended up having to pour some off.

Tasty! I had no issues with the sauce reducing but kept it at a pretty rapid simmer. I don't love cooking squash this way as it was hard to cook evenly and some pieces got mushy. Easy gremolata was a great touch.

Can I make this with carrots instead?

Substituted 3 tbsp of brown sugar for the honey (not a fan of honey). Avoid evaporation by lowering the heat and adding squash as soon as the beer (used Fever Tree) boils. Used a braiser skillet, kept it covered for 25 minutes. Remove the cover, turn the heat up some for about 5 minutes, letting the liquid turn into a syrup. Added gremolata and set the braiser right on the table next to a Pork Roast rubbed with Garlic, Rosemary & Fennel. Lovely Sunday dinner.

I had to scoop out the squash with a slotted spoon and reduce for an extra 20-30 minutes, but it's pretty tasty once I poured the sauce back over.

I LOVED this. This is going to be in regular rotation in winter squash season. I made it the day before Thanksgiving and then reheated it and added the Gremolata right before serving.

Followed directions faithfully, but this did not reduce and never got to the glossy glaze. Turned out a bit mushy and bland even with the gremolata. I would not make this again.

This is a very forgiving recipe to riff on. I first made it while my kitchen was under construction and substituted whatever I could find—a couple clementines, candied ginger, maple syrup for the honey and cinnamon were pretty much what was available. I made some quick vegetable stock from a leek and celery. I followed the preparation on the stove. The 2nd time I used OJ instead of stock and baked it in the oven, basting it every 15 minutes for an hour. The ginger and ginger beer are delicious.

this was such a big hit at my thanksgiving table, maybe my favorite dish this year! flavorful yet subtle. something different yet it went perfectly with the rest of our meal. can’t wait to make it again!

I wouldn’t make this recipe again. The “sauce” never became syrupy, even after cooking the squash for longer than directed and removing the squash and boiling the liquid for several extra minutes. The gremolata also needed salt. Overall, not worth the effort of peeling and cutting the squash. If you do make it, I’d try cooking the squash and just broth and reducing a small amount of ginger beer separately.

I had the opposite problem that @Joan had. By the time all that liquid cooked down, the squash was mush. I would use half the ginger beer if I made this again.

My squash-loving mother would like this again. I'm not a big fan. Even with the ginger beer and the gremolata it was still...squash in sauce.

I made this to take to thanksgiving this year. Doubled it, used Fever Tree ginger beer and pre-cut butternut chunks. I cooked the chunks until they were just tender (yes, the liquid reduced to a thick sauce), then transferred to a shallow baking/serving dish, and covered it in foil. Reheated it for 20 min at 350. Topped it with the gremolata before serving. Thought there wasn’t enough gremolata so I doubled it. Also gremolata needed salt. Everyone liked it. Would make again.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.