This is based on a recipe from the book I reviewed recently, Molly Stevens’ All About Roasting. I have been intrigued by roasted grapes since I saw them on Michele’s blog back in April. Then I saw them in Molly Stevens’ book and then again on Michele’s blog just last week. I knew I had to try them.
There is a recipe in Stevens’ book which calls for slow roasting of grapes for a couple of hours. I really want to try these but haven’t had the organisational ability needed for this yet. The combination of squash and grapes grabbed me though. I made them last week with pumpkin, apple and grape and it was delicious, but we had tucked in before I remembered to take a photograph. So I made it again last night, this time with a butternut squash we had grown in the garden and some apples off one of the trees. We had it with roast chicken both times. But it would be good with anything, especially pork. Mr OC has taken the left-overs to enjoy at work today.
Molly Stevens’ suggests that you use either grapes or apple with the squash but I really like using both. The tartness of the apple works well with the sweetness of the grapes and the squash.
Stevens’ suggests that you could use marjoram, rosemary, thyme or sage. But my herb of choice would always be sage, as it is my favourite and it works well with the grapes and apple.
This makes enough for 3-4 as a side dish
20g butter, melted
1 tablespoon olive oil
5-6 sage leaves chopped finely
1-2 tablespoon of maple syrup
½ butternut squash
1 green apple
3-4 handfuls of grapes
salt and pepper
Method
Chop the butternut squash into cubes and the apple into 8 slices. Place the squash, apple and grapes into a bowl and toss with the butter, oil, maple syrup, sage and salt and pepper. Spread into a single layer on a roasting tray and place in a preheated oven at 200°c, gas mark 6, or in the middle of the roasting oven of the Aga. Roast for about 40 minutes until the squash, apples and grapes are nicely caramelised and tender. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Please try it, it is delicious. Michele’s recipe for grapes and sausages looks worth a try too. That is next on my list now I know how lovely roasted grapes are.
I just knew that you would love the roasted grapes. This recipe sounds fantastic, and it is sure to be part of one of our dinners this week. Perfect for a chilly fall evening.
I did love the roasted grapes and I am going to try them with sausages as you suggest. The combination of the squash, grapes and apples is really very good.
These were great. I’ve got the rest for my lunch!
Haven’t you eaten it yet? It’s not like you to wait so long? x
I’m not sure how I feel about roasted grapes, although I see them making an appearance in more and more recipes at this time of year. That said, your dish looks lovely and colourful and positively healthy too lol
Chele, they are very good. The concept is a bit strange but trust me on this one.
Super sounding recipe – I’m definitely going to try it. Thanks
Thanks Flavia for your support as always.
I love well flavoured fall dishes like this one but I would omit the maple syrup, I think because it is already sweet from the apple & the grapes!
Yummie,…;)
Thanks Sophie. The maple syrup is optional but it does caramelise everything beautifully.
Well impressed with you growing your own butternut squash successfully. We had a bad year for squashes, although managed a couple of huge pumpkin ones which are OK, but not the best. None of the other varieties we tried came to anything. Anyway, this sounds like a really interesting and delicious combination – I’ve not come across roast grapes before. Sage goes really well with squash. I have a lovely recipe I often do at Christmas – a sort of squash and sage gratin, with loads of cream 😉
Spectacular combination for fall, Kath. Like you, I will need to organize better to do a slow slow roast of the grapes–which I can only imagine would be remarkable. Sage is my preferred herb in this instance too.
Sage is the best! I must make time for the slow roasted grapes.
Hmmm, Roasted Grapes! I’ll tell my lot that’s what’s for tea, and let you know the outcome! Just kidding – it looks divinely warming and I wish we were having it tonight instead of boring chicken casserole!
Ah chicken casserole is never boring. I can see some people need more convincing about the roasted grape, but honestly it really is delicious. Go on, you know you want to..
Your gardening skills are enviable. I can grow flowers but manage to kill most vegetables just by looking at them! Home grown butternut squash must taste fabulous and those roasted grapes I must try. I can see your husband is very happy:)
Oh Margaret you are very kind, it is more luck than any expertise – the weeds do well too. The roasted grapes you must try, they are a real revelation.
Roasted grapes sound so unique and exotic to me!:P
This dish looks like a very delicious one, I am sure it tastes that and you must have had lots of fun making it!:D
I can’t believe i’ve been slow on commenting here. I am evr so intrigued by this recipe. I’ve never had roasted grapes either, mmm. I also have butternut squash envy – wow how lucky are you to have home grown one, pretty successfully I see too.
PS Hope your well, you haven’t blogged for a while. If your busy – well thats good!
Hello Shaheen, you must try roasted grapes – they are delicious. I still haven’t managed to get round to the dessert version, but I will. I am well thank you. I haven’t blogged and must do soon. There have been various bouts of illness in the house, nothing serious, but enough to get in the way of normal routines. x