Today’s Recipe: Chicken Thighs with Buttercup Squash

What to do with all that squash? Here’s a delish recipe that’s different from all the rest.

CHICKEN THIGHS WITH BUTTERCUP SQUASH

PREP TIME: 25 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 1 HOUR
MAKES: 4 SERVINGS

Ingredients:

2½    lbs buttercup squash, or hard winter squash, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1½” cubes
1      leek, top discarded, and bottom thinly sliced*
1½   T rosemary, minced
1      T orange rind
3      T butter, melted
4     chicken thighs
½    t salt
¼    t pepper
1     T coconut oil

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine buttercup squash, leeks, rosemary, orange rind, and melted butter. Set aside.
3. In a Dutch oven, heat the coconut oil over medium heat.
4. Once the oil is hot, sprinkle the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add to the Dutch oven and fry on both sides until golden brown (about 7 minutes on each side).
5. Pour the buttercup squash mixture over the chicken. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

*To clean the leeks easily, put them in a bowl of cold water for a couple of minutes, gently breaking the rings apart with your hands, then drain.

Slice buttercup squash down the middle.

To remove the seeds, cut around the pulp with a knife.

Then using a spoon remove pulp and seeds. (The seeds may be dried and baked later with a pinch of salt for a tasty snack!)

Slice the squash again.

Peel the squash.

Then slice the squash into chunks.

Slice up the leek.

To clean the leeks easily, put them in a bowl of cold water for a couple of minutes, gently breaking the rings apart with your hands, then drain.

In a large bowl, combine buttercup squash and leeks.

 Add rosemary.

Add orange rind.

Add melted butter.

Stir and set aside.

Sprinkle salt over chicken thighs.

Then pepper.

 In a Dutch oven, heat the coconut oil over medium heat and add chicken.

Fry both sides until golden brown (about 7 minutes on each side).

Pour the buttercup squash mixture over the chicken.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

This just in! Dr. Bonner’s sent us a couple of jars of their new coconut oil to try. It’s Fair Trade/Organic. Grab a jar if you see it on your store shelves. The flavor is excellent.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *