This Simple Squash Casserole with Gruyere Cheese is perfect for the Fall fill with healthy ingredients and a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving.
Simple Squash Casserole with Gruyere Cheese Video
This time of year, we are all looking to prepare yummy dinners that give comfort. The days are short and nights colder with winter just around the corner. Preparing healthy and nutritious meals is essential at the farmhouse. I have to have a warm dinner but, with all the health benefits. This simpler squash casserole with gruyere cheese has fresh ingredients such as seasonal butternut squash, kale and thyme. With a creamy sauce and top this casserole with gruyere cheese give all the “warm hugs” anyone needs this time of year.
Health Benefits of a Squash Casserole with Gruyere Cheese
Butternut Squash is an hour-glassed winter squash and has many health benefits such as helps boost immune system and regulate blood sugar. This winter squash is tough and a deep orange and has a sweet taste.
Kale is a green leafy vegetable and many health benefits and rich source of various anticancer chemicals. Has more beta carotene than spinach, helps regulate estrogen and helps to fight colon cancer. Also, this green leafy vegetable is filled with iron, calcium and magnesium.
Cayenne Pepper helps with weight loss, blood clotting and improves circulation.
Turmeric is a spice that is a root and when grounded it looked yellowish orange. Having turmeric in one’s diet helps with inflammation.
Ground Nutmeg is a nut, but in this recipe, it is ground. You can buy nutmeg whole but, purchasing ground it one less step. Nutmeg is a filled with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and has been known to boost mood.
Shallots are a small, oval shape type of onion. Cooking with shallots or any onions are strong in antioxidants and filled with numerous anticancer agents. Using shallots in this recipe helps lower blood pressure along with lower cholesterol.
Thyme like all herbs has many health benefits such as helping to fight acne, regulate mucas and fights infections such as acute bronchitis.
Garlic is an antioxidant with antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agents. I love using garlic all year but, in the fall, I double up on it because of it many health benefits. Giving protection against different viral strains; garlic is helpful ingredient. Reduce cholesterol; by incorporating garlic in every meal.
Note, garlic does not have the same health benefits when it is heated; raw is best.
Eating Greens has Health Benefits
Most American are not getting enough greens in their diet and learning to make these beautiful, dark, leafy greens a part of our meals is hard and very important. Eating greens such as kale nourishes our bodies in so many ways such as maintaining a strong blood and respiratory system along with a strong immune system.
Greens are high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and K. Leafy Greens come in many forms, explore and find out which ones, you love I love Kale, arugula and spinach. Also, experiment with cooking your greens such as boil, sauté, broil or simply eat raw.
Adding greens to eggs in the morning, in a smoothie or to this squash casserole are examples of many ways you can add these glorious greens to your diet.
Tools Needed to Make Squash Casserole with Gruyere Cheese
Cast Iron I love cooking with cast iron pots and skillets. There are so many benefits with cooking with cast iron including enriching foods with Iron.
Knife should be good quality and if well taken care of it will be worth the money with years of use. Make sure you knife is sharp and select one that will cut a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Measuring Spoons should consist of a set of spoons that graduates from 1/8 teaspoon to one tablespoon.
Cheese Grater should be well made and have grating holes. There are many graters on the market. Find a grater that is easy to grip and an grate a variety of cheeses, garlic, etc.
Silicone Oven Mitts are amazing, and I feel give the best protection from heat.
Simple Squash Casserole with Gruyere Cheese Recipe
This is squash casserole with Gruyere Cheese is perfect for the Fall, I love making it especially for Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash peeled; sliced.
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced.
- 3 shallots, peeled and chopped.
- 1 cup of fresh kale chopped, and stems removed.
- 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme
- 1/8 cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper
- 1 ½ cups of whole organic milk
- 2 cups of grated gruyere cheese
First, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel the butternut squash and slice into half inch thickness using a sharp chef’s knife. Dice the shallots 1/4 inches and minced the garlic.
Next, in a sauce pot melt coconut oil over medium heat add chopped shallots and garlic.
Cook shallots and garlic until soft about three minutes.
Add fresh kale and season with cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook kale until wilted about four minutes.
Stir in peeled and sliced butternut squash and mix well.
In a baking dish or cast-iron skillet add squash, kale mixture.
Now in the same pot heat organic whole milk and fresh thyme until softly boiling.
Low heat and season with salt and pepper and bring back to a boil.
This recipe calls for grated cheese, grate two cups of gruyere cheese. Add one cup of gruyere cheese; mix till melted.
Pour sauce over the mixture of squash/kale and bake for Thirty minute.
Finally, Top squash casserole with remaining gruyere cheese and bake for an additional ten minutes.
Serve with your favorite protein, salad and/rolls.
What Wine goes with Gruyere Cheese?
Cheese and wine are best friends and if you serve this simple squash casserole with gruyere cheese a great glass of wine completes the meal. Gruyere cheese has a nutty flavor and light fruity wine will pair nicely such as a Reisling or a Champagne.
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