Butternut squash is sweet, nutty and wonderfully versatile. It’s delicious simply roasted and chucked into a salad, cooked in pasta and risottos, or served up whole as an epic veggie centrepiece. Whatever you fancy making, with our step-by-step guide on how to peel and cut a butternut squash you’ll be able to boost the flavour and nutrition of your dinners with ease.
You’ll need:
- sharp knife
- chopping board
- clean, damp tea towel
- small bowl
- teaspoon
How to cut and peel butternut squash
- For safety, place the damp tea towel underneath the chopping board. This will stop the board from moving around.
- Holding the squash firmly with one hand, use the knife to chop the top off.
- Turn the squash around and chop the bottom off.
- (Optional) If you want to peel the squash, hold it in one hand, and run a speed peeler over the skin to remove it.
- Cut the squash down through the middle, making sure your fingers are out of the way of the blade at all times.
- Take each half, turn them onto their ends, and cut them vertically down the middle.
- Use the teaspoon to scrape out the seeds into a bowl.
- Place the quarters flat on the board, and cut into thick slices ready to roast.
- For smaller chunks, stand the slices against each other and cut horizontally to create cubes, ready to add to curries, stews and soups.
For more top tips on how to peel and chop butternut squash, check out Jamie’s video:
Looking for butternut squash inspiration? Check out these delicious recipes: