Winter squash splendidly takes zucchini’s place
Summer is long past, and so is the bountiful zucchini harvest. What to do without that ready and willing vegetable that you can shred up and hide in pancakes, stir-fries and muffins?
Here’s the answer: switch from summer squash to winter squash!
Although winter squash does not have as high a moisture content as summer squash, I found that when grated, it melted beautifully into muffins. I added a healthy dose of vegetable goodness (read fiber and antioxidants) without the children being any wiser.
There is a sweet condiment found frequently in Brazil, called doce de abóbor. It is made from shredded squash or pumpkin, sugar and coconut. It can be found chewy like a candy, or in a soft and spoonable preserve.
These muffins, along with shredded coconut and a healthy does of cinnamon, cardamom and ginger, are a riff on this sweet squash jam in muffin form. They are only subtly sweet, so they can be doled out for breakfast or lunch or as an after-school snack without guilt. If you do want something a little sweeter or more luxurious, consider serving with maple or honey butter.
Although it takes a little muscle to grate the squash, in this form you can mix it into all sorts of dishes, without going through the trouble to roast and puree it. Think about a stir-fry with purple cabbage and flank steak, or waffles with warm baking spices.
Grated squash can be frozen, too. Simply grate and measure out 1-cup portions on a lined baking sheet. Freeze until firm and then place in a plastic freezer bag or container. If using in soup, use from frozen, otherwise thaw for several hours in refrigerator before mixing into batter or stir-fry.
Anna Thomas Bates is a mother, writer and cheesemaker living in southern Wisconsin. Look for her Tallgrass Kitchen feature weekly in the Food section.
These muffins are not that sweet. If you’re looking for a sweeter muffin, you can add an additional 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, or serve them with honey or maple butter. I like to mince up the shredded coconut a bit so you aren’t biting into long coconut shreds, but this is optional.