Butternut Squash With Drizzle

Butternut squash is one of my favorite vegetables.

However, it is not one of my favorite vegetables to prep and cook!

After all, these squashes can be hard to peel and hard to cut. 

If you own an Instant Pot, you are in luck.

Did you know that butternut squash can be cooked whole in the IP without peeling or cutting it? After pressure cooking on high for 25 minutes, the thin skin comes off easily and the cooked vegetable becomes tender and can be cut in cubes or mashed.

What used to be time consuming and difficult task is now easy in the Instant Pot! 

Yes, you can also roast a whole butternut squash without peeling or cutting in the oven.  However, it's a lot messier, hogs the oven for an hour, and heats up the kitchen. I find it MUCH easier and just as tasty to make the squash in my Instant Pot.

Butternut squash is a great winter choice. It's available, it will keep for at least a week ( or more) on the shelf, and it's rich in beta carotene ( for the eyes) and protective antioxidants.

Amazing amount of nutrients

Our bodies depend on antioxidants to fight free radicals that can cause disease and also to help reduce inflammation. Scientific research on the cancer preventing benefits of antioxidants lead cutting edge doctors like Dr. Axe to say, "  That’s because the best way to reduce your risk of cancer is to fuel your body with nutrients that keep it healthy and able to fight infection and disease. The moral of this story? Fill your diet with antioxidants, like the ones in butternut squash." his full article. 

If you are not selecting foods for their nutrient value, maybe it is something to consider the positive impact healthy food may have on our health. We are learning that what you eat may make a difference in the way you feel and look. It seems the old adage, " you are what you eat" may actually be true!

How Do I Eat Butternut Squash?

If you are fortunate to get a sweet squash, eat in plain. It tastes amazing.

If the squash is not sweet, I like to make a honey, lemon, and orange blossom water dressing to sweeten it up a bit. In addition, I  sometimes top it with antioxidant rich and colorful pomegranates seeds.

This dish not only tastes great, it packs a great deal of nutrients.

How to cook butternut squash whole in the Instant Pot

Ingredients: 

1 medium butternut squash, washed well
1 cup of water

Directions: 

Place water in the Instant Pot liner. Use the steamer basket and place squash in it. Secure lid, close steam valve and set to pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. When done, release steam manually according to manufacturer's directions. When all steam is released, carefully remove lid and using pot holders remove the steamer tray with the squash. Cut squash in half and remove seeds. Scoop out squash or scrape off skin and slice squash. Drizzle with the honey orange drizzle. Top with pomegranate seeds if desired.

Recipe for honey orange drizzle 
Ingredients: 
1/2 cup orange juice ( freshly squeezed) 
1/2 cup of lime juice ( freshly squeezed) 
1/2 teaspoon of orange blossom water
2 tablespoons honey
optional: 3 Tablespoons pomegranate seeds

Directions 
Mix all ingredients together and drizzle over the cooked butternut squash