Baked Butternut Squash Steak Fries

Baked Butternut Squash Steak Fries

[serves 1-2] or in my case, one hungry hungry hippo!

For the fries:

1 large butternut squash

1/2 teaspoon oil

Seasoning blend:

salt, pepper, garlic powder + cayenne pepper

use a little, or a lot!

Feeling feisty? Make them in to Cheese Fries!

Sprinkle with grated cheese and diced pickled jalapenos and return to oven to melt.  then top with shredded lettuce, chopped green onions, and all your favorite toppings.  Plain greek yogurt makes a fantastic sub for sour cream, and salsa?  Pile it on!

Get Baking!

Preheat oven to 450F.  Cut the round, bulbous part of the squash off first, reserve for later.  Peel the long handle-like part of the butternut squash using a veggie peeler.  I actually don't own a functional vegetable peeler so I use a cheese slicer.  Don't laugh!  It works on more than just cheese =) I've been using it to peel cucumbers, squash, and potatoes for years and years.  Cut squash into 4-inch strips about half an inch thick.  Coat fries with approx 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Arrange evenly spaced on a wire cooling rack and set atop a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.  This is my favorite faux-frying technique!  Crispy outside, fluffy inside... It never fails me =)

Pop em in the oven at 450F, set your timer to 30 minutes, and walk away.  

The oven will take care of the rest!

Serve them dunked in ketchup-y goodness

or serve them up as hot, melty cheese fries.

but you have to add more veggies if you do.  it's a rule =)

either way, you're in for a treat =)

Oh... and the seasoning blend on these babies? glor. i. ous.
so skip the plain white spuds and try squash instead!

Still Hungry?