Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
• ¼ cup fresh sage leaves, stems reserved
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 acorn squash, about 1½ pounds each, halved lengthwise, seeds discarded
• ¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided
• ¾ tsp. ground black pepper, divided
• ¼ cup sherry vinegar
• 1 cup ricotta

Directions

Active time: 25 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Preheat oven to 350°. In a roasting pan, combine 1 cup water, 1 Tbsp. butter, sage stems, and bay leaves. Season cut sides of squash halves with ½ tsp. each salt and pepper and place in pan, cut sides up, evenly spaced. Bake until squash is tender but still holding its shape, about 50 minutes, basting a few times with liquid in pan.

Transfer squash halves to a work surface and let cool about 5 minutes. Cut in half again to form 8 quarters. In a large nonstick skillet, melt 1 Tbsp. butter. Add sage leaves and cook over medium heat until crisp, about 1 minute per side. Transfer sage to a plate. Add 1 Tbsp. butter to skillet and melt. Add half the squash quarters, cut side down, and cook over medium-high heat until browned, about 2 minutes. Turn squash to other cut sides and brown. Transfer squash to plates. Repeat with remaining 1 Tbsp. butter and squash.

Add vinegar to skillet and boil over high heat, scraping up browned bits, 1 minute. Season with ¼ tsp. each salt and pepper and pour over squash. Spoon 2 Tbsp. ricotta in each squash quarter, scatter reserved crispy sage on top, and serve.

From Beginnings: My Way To Start a Meal (Weldon Owen) by Chris Cosentino.

More Meatless Recipes

• Quinoa cakes
• Brazilian-style simple pilaf
• Lisa Oz's Indian spiced cauliflower