In honour of Canadian Thanksgiving which is this weekend, I made an autumn harvest side dish using the squash and apples currently in season with kale and sage from my garden. Oh, and also some bacon and some cider, because everything is better with bacon, and we all like an excuse to buy Strongbow right?
This would be a great addition to any turkey dinner, the apples, apple cider and apple cider vinegar really enhance the sweetness in the squash, and the sage would blend well with a classic stuffing. I used acorn squash for this recipe, but other winter squashes would substitute well.
(serves 4)
Loosely adapted from this Cooking Light recipe.
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 slices of bacon, diced
1/2 small onion, diced
1 acorn squash (other winter squashes could be substituted)
4 sage leaves, chopped
salt and pepper
1/3 cup apple cider (strongbow!)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 apple, peeled and diced
2 cups kale, stems removed and roughly chopped
Wash and peel squash. Cut in half and scoop out the seeds then chop into 1″ pieces. Heat olive oil in a medium dutch oven to medium low and add bacon. Cook until crisp, stirring to cook evenly. Remove bacon and set aside. Add onions and cook for 3 minutes. Add squash, sage and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to coat squash in oil and onion and then add vinegar and cider. Cover and bring to a simmer. Cook for 25 minutes. Add in apple and cook for another 10, then stir in kale. Cook for 10 minutes. With a potato masher, roughly mash it (really rough, think 10 seconds). Taste and add salt as needed. Serve with bacon on top.
More Thanksgiving Recipes:
Sausage and Sage Stuffing
Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
Butternut Squash Soup
For more Fall recipes and Cooking Ideas, check out 5 Things to Cook this Fall
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
What a tasty looking and healthy side made with seasonal produce!
MMMMMMMM,..;what a great recipe: very seasonal & so tasty too!!
I just looked at the Cooking Light recipe this was based on, and I have to tell you I wouldn't have looked twice at the CL version. Your's looks divine. I bought everything today to make it ('cept I forgot the sage–I'll have to use dry). I'll let you know how it goes
Tiffany – I hope it works! I admit I didn't look too close at the Cooking Light recipe, but the combination's in general seem quote common.
This is definitely the perfect Thanksgiving side, I love all the lovely fall ingredients you used!
Whoa your photo just POPPED out of my screen! Maybe it's the yellow against the purple background. I will definitely add this to my mid-week meal repertoire.
This sounds like a perfect side dish!