Winter Squash & White Bean Bake

Using ingredients that are quick to cook and chop makes for a decadent and quick crowd-pleaser that’ll keep you out of the kitchen and back to enjoying the holidays!
Featured at our Pearlridge Class: "Potluck Show-Stoppers" on 11/21/11.

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• 1 (10-ounce) bag pearl onions or 2 cup diced onions
• 8-ounce Orzo pasta (about half a package)
• 8 Tablespoons butter (1 stick)
• 2 cups Winter squash (such as Kabocha, Butternut Squash, Acorn), cubed
• 2 cups Brussels sprouts, root ends cut off & cut into quarters
• 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini bean, drained & rinsed
• 2 teaspoons basil + more to garnish
• 2 teaspoons thyme + more to garnish
• Salt and pepper
• Balsamic vinegar
• 1 (4-ounce) tub or ¼ pound Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 8 x 8 inch baking dish with olive oil.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil along with a pinch of salt. You can peel pearl onions quickly by boiling them for 2 minutes. To save time, cook pearl onions and pasta in the same pot of boiling water - so be sure to wash onions before boiling. After boiling onions for 2 minutes, use a slotted spoon to transfer them into a large bowl of cold water. Then cook pasta in the same boiling water according to package directions. Drain and rinse. Drizzle a little olive oil over pasta to keep from sticking.
3. When pearl onions are cool enough to handle, trim off the root ends. From the stem end, squeeze the onion between your thumb and forefinger. The onion should slip right out of its skin. Cut into quarters. Set aside.
4. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
5. Stir in onions, Orzo, squash, Brussels sprouts, and beans. Season with herbs, salt and pepper.
6. Saute for a couple minutes or until all ingredients are coated with butter.
7. Pour half of mixture into baking dish. Lightly drizzle Balsamic and layer Parmesan cheese. Pour remaining half of mixture and repeat Balsamic drizzle and Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool and garnish with dried herbs before serving. Enjoy!

Yields 6-8 Servings

User Rating: