Butternut squash and Goat Cheese Pizza w/ Arugula and Sage

I find that, with a little experimenting, butternut squash can be delicioso in any form…I mean, it would have to be to merit the name “butternut”!

 Technically a fruit (but can be oh so savory), I have discovered ways to cook this squash in a pie, incorporated into pasta in any way, even caramelized and crisped and crumbled on ice cream…now that’s what I call a diverse gourd. Did you know that melon, pumpkin, and cucumbers are also in the gourd family?

AND they can be roasted, sautéed, purreed (and given to your baby!), and even turned into entirely something else! The butternut squash is also a super food! So eat up cause it is beneficial to your heart and your immune system.

So anyways, I made this pizza with goat cheese, arugula, and sage and it was splendid. I used a store-bought crust cause I felt a little lazy that day but by all means, experiment with you own crust too!

Ingredients:

• Pizza Crust or dough. Whole foods market makes a great one. (Any brand is fine as long as you cook it according to directions and it’s not too thin). If you want to make your own > google it.
•  Butternut Squash- Diced
• Water, Veggie or Chicken Stock
•  Garlic- Minced
•  Sage
• Arugula
• Lemon
• Goat Cheese
• Mozzarella. Fresh or Shredded
•  Olive oil
•  S&P

Directions:

-       Bake crust according to directions.

-       Braise diced butternut squash in chicken stock with four sage leaves, minced garlic, olive oil, and S&P.

-       Let all the liquid evaporate from the pan and the butternut squash soften and lightly caramelize. If the squash isn’t cooked through, keep adding a little liquid at a time until it its. Squeeze with half a lemon to wake up the flavors.

-       Drizzle the top of the crust with a little olive oil and disperse the butternut squash relatively evenly. Save a little for garnish.

-       --Add mozzarella, Parmesan, sage.

-       Then add dollops of goat cheese across the top.

-Drizzle with a little more olive oil and lemon and sprinkle with S&P.
-Top it off with some fresh arugula! 

-       Bake pizza at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

-       When pizza is done, add a little fresh arugula along the sides. Then add a couple more goat cheese dollops and, of course, a splash of lemon and olive oil.

-       Season with S&P and serve. 
(These photos were taken by the awesome Jordan Engle, http://WWW.OGPICS.COM)


Bisous, 
Chantilly