Honeynut Squash Frittata With Red Onion & Sage Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Squash

by: Melina Hammer

October18,2022

5

16 Ratings

  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 35 minutes
  • Serves 4

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Author Notes

I don’t usually think “ooh yes I want a frittata” because nearly always, the results feel dense and uninspired. Very happily, I can no longer say that: Enter a frittata you’ll want to make any day of the week, throughout the whole year. I adapted a recipe I’ve long loved, a sort of baked custard that appears in my book, A Year at Catbird Cottage. Brought hot from the oven, it is a dazzling, puffy, and golden surface, chock-full of fillings. No matter what ingredients I incorporate, it’s always a hit. This autumn-themed bake is delicious and a cinch to make. Use any winter squash if you cannot find honeynut, and follow the same instructions below. Serve this frittata alongside a zippy salad, and you have a real feast.
Melina Hammer

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1-2 very small squash (about 1 pound), such as honeynut, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeds and any stringy bits scooped out, and sliced into ¼-inch wedges
  • 1 small red onion, peeled, ends trimmed, and sliced through the root into 6 wedges
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for roasting
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Flaky salt, to taste
  • 5 tablespoonsall-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoonfreshly grated nutmeg
  • Zest from 1 Meyer lemon
  • 2/3 cupwhole milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoonssalted butter, plus 1 tsp, cubed
  • 6 ouncesgoat cheese, broken into chunks
  • 7-9 fresh sage leaves
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F with racks in middle and lower third. Place a heavy 9” enameled skillet or Pyrex baking dish on the lower oven rack.
  2. Toss the squash and onion wedges in a generous drizzle of olive oil and arrange in a single layer on a sheet pan. Season with salt and roast on the middle oven rack, for 15-20 minutes or until golden in parts and softened. Cool on a wire rack.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, nutmeg, ½ teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, lemon zest, and milk. Add the eggs and beat vigorously until frothy.
  4. Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and add 2 tablespoons butter. It should sizzle immediately on contact. Swirl the butter around the pan and along the sides to coat, then carefully but swiftly pour the egg mixture into the pan. Fan the squash slices and nestle the red onion wedges into the batter. It’s okay if they slide around as you place them. Arrange the goat cheese chunks and sage leaves over the top. Use the remaining cubed butter to dot sage leaves. Season with black pepper and bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until puffed, golden at the edges, just set, and fragrant. Let cool slightly, then slice into wedges and serve.

Tags:

  • Frittata
  • American
  • Squash
  • Brunch

Recipe by: Melina Hammer

Melina is the author of 'A Year at Catbird Cottage' with Ten Speed Press. She grows an heirloom and pollinator garden and forages wild foods at her namesake Hudson Valley getaway, Catbird Cottage. Melina loves serving curated menus for guests from near and far seeking community amidst the hummingbirds, grosbeaks, finches, and the robust flavors of the seasons.

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16 Reviews

NXL October 22, 2023

Love the flavors in this. I would call it a Dutch Baby Pancake rather than fritatta, though. Couldn't find fresh sage, so I added dried sage to the hot skillet with the butter. Great aroma! I used half of an acorn squash and 4 ounces of cheese. This is going into my favorites list!

Shine March 11, 2023

I had homegrown roasted honeynut squash in the freezer so it was pretty quick to make. I didn’t have goat cheese so used feta, otherwise made it as is and it was outstanding! Made it in my cast iron skillet. I will make this regularly, still more squash left!

Margo S. February 12, 2023

Excellent recipe. Very light and delicious. I had a kabocha squash, which worked great. Also subbed cheese we had on hand (aged cheddar) for the goat- feta would also be good. This recipe is so adaptable to various vegetable and herb combos. We had it for dinner with a salad, but it would also make a great brunch.

Rut January 31, 2023

Sooo delicious! I made this with a koginut squash, otherwise as written. It is a divine combination of flavors, and gave me the sense of eating a sort of sweet and savory French toast. Wonderful.

Melina H. January 31, 2023

Thank you so much for sharing how it went for you. I agree, a divine combination of flavors! I should add it to my weekend menu again...

Subscription3 December 23, 2022

My family loved this dish. Will definitely make again. Would like more of the sage flavor next time, so may try one of the other reviewer’s suggestions.

AntoniaJames November 21, 2022

I made this again, with the following tweak that made it even better. I chopped the sage (I use more than called for) and dropped it into the sizzling butter, spreading it around the bottom of the my oval gratin pan before adding the other ingredients. This blooms the flavor of the sage a bit, while ensuring just the right amount of sage in every bite. I also add a touch of thyme. I'll be making this all winter.

This recipe is a keeper. ;o)

sizarah November 17, 2022

This was super delicious, and will be in the regular fall rotation. I just used a regular cast iron skillet which worked great. I also whisked in a couple shakes of herbes de provence into the egg mixture. I used 1 additional egg and a splash more milk and flour since the squash seemed like a lot of volume. This was easy to make and super flavorful.

Melina H. November 18, 2022

All lovely things here! It's great to see how versatile and forgiving this recipe is. Great idea with the HDP. I just made it again today and added clusters of hen of the woods mushrooms with the other elements. So sooo good.

Karen S. November 8, 2022

Just looking at this recipe had me craving it. I made it as written although I didn’t have goat cheese so substituted Boursin. OMG it was amazing!

Melina H. November 8, 2022

Smart swap! That sounds to-die-for. I made it again today and added cured salmon (and only had brie+feta on-hand, so used them) and it was SO GOOD. So happy you loved it :D

Adrienne W. November 6, 2022

Made this recipe this morning and it was fantastic! My husband asked if it could become “our frittata recipe”. We used acorn squash as that’s what we had but it was still delicious and sweet. I used slightly less goat cheese and broke them into what I think are smaller pieces than the image but they were still in chunks. I did add one more egg to the recipe for more bulk but didn’t change anything else and I didn’t adjust the flour or milk. Will make again.

Melina H. November 6, 2022

How nice to hear! It's a good one - really great to see so many people making the recipe and loving it. Thanks for the info on having used acorn squash - I made it again today and swapped purple sweet potato for the squash, and a combo of brie+feta in place of the goat cheese - it turned out so good.

AntoniaJames October 21, 2022

One more note: I used honeynut squash, the first time I've tried it. The smallish squash was the perfect size for this, but roasted, I found it a bit too sweet. Next time, even when using butternut squash, I'll sprinkle the roasted slices with sherry vinegar right when they come out of the oven after roasting. ;o)

AntoniaJames October 21, 2022

Excellent. A keeper, to be sure. I used feta instead of goat cheese and about a dozen sage leaves of various sizes, just picked from my garden, coarsely chopped. I used a longish oval Le Creuset gratin dish, which worked well and made this even more beautiful. So easy to make, too. I served it with this quinoa salad https://food52.com/recipes/31742-quinoa-with-roasted-beets-and-pear, minus the feta, plus added chopped blanched beet greens and used a crisp, tart apple instead of a pear, and a sharp mustardy vinaigrette all over it - welcome, with the richness of the main dish. Pair with hard cider for a crazy good fall dinner, easily made on a weeknight with cooked quinoa and beets on hand. ;o)

Melina H. October 21, 2022

Terrific, thanks for the feedback! I can just imagine that beautiful surface in your oval pan...

Honeynut Squash Frittata With Red Onion & Sage Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Why is my frittata not fluffy? ›

Tips for Fluffy Eggs

Don't overcook! Overcooking eggs makes them rubbery. When you remove the Frittata from the oven, it will continue to cook, especially if you are using cast iron, which retains heat well. You do want it to be set and not liquidy, but keep this in mind so you keep the texture perfect.

What is the difference between honeynut squash and butternut squash? ›

Honeynut squash has a similar shape and flavor to butternut squash but averages about half the size and is sweeter. It has two to three times more beta-carotene than butternut squash. Honeynut squash can be roasted, sautéed, puréed, added to soups, stews, and braises, and has enough sugar content for desserts.

What kind of cheese is best for frittata? ›

For a standard 12-egg frittata, stir in about one cup (shred it first). Want to top the eggs with cheese, too? Shoot for ¼ to ½ cup more. If it's an oozing texture you're after, pick cheeses that have superior melting quality: "This is your cheddar, gruyère, and fontina," says Perry.

What is the frittata ratio to memorize? ›

The Frittata Ratio to Memorize

So how do you make a great frittata every time without always using a recipe? The answer is a ratio. For every six eggs, use 1/4 cup heavy cream, 1 cup cheese, and 2 cups total of vegetables and/or meat.

Do you have to peel honeynut squash? ›

You can cook honeynut squash in much the same way you cook other winter squash varieties, but the honeynut has some advantages. Its small size lends itself well to simply halving it before you cook it, and its tender skin is thin and edible, so it does not need to be peeled.

Do you refrigerate honeynut squash? ›

Because of its thin skin, honeynut will not last as long as thicker-skinned squash. It should be stored in a cool, dark spot where it will last for 2 to 3 months. Once cooked, the cubes or puree can be left in the refrigerator for a week, or frozen for 3 months.

Is honeynut squash healthy? ›

Honeynut squash, like its winter squash peers, is full of dietary fibre. Fiber helps with digestion, controlling blood sugar, and maintaining a healthy weight. One cup of this squash will give you about 5 grams of fibre. That's 20% of your daily fibre needs.

Why is my frittata dense? ›

While you might be inclined to whip them to oblivion, beat the eggs just enough to blend the whites and yolks. Overbeating will cause the frittata to poof in the oven, then fall into a denser layer when cooling, like a collapsed soufflé or Dutch baby.

How do you make frittata not spongy? ›

Beat eggs until just blended: Overbeating the eggs invites too much air in to the egg mixture. As the frittata bakes, the eggs will expand and puff up. That can leave them with a spongy texture that's dry and unappealing. You want to combine the eggs well, but stop once everything is fully incorporated.

What makes eggs more fluffy? ›

Add Moisture and Mix

Next, use a fork to whisk the eggs, completely incorporating the yolks and whites into one sunny yellow mixture and whipping in a small amount of air for extra fluffiness. Since dryness leads to dense, chewy eggs, this is a chance to boost your eggs with some extra moisture.

How to fix a bland frittata? ›

Salt's the cure

Not only do you want to make sure to season your beaten eggs with a hefty dose of salt and pepper, but sprinkle the stuff on whatever fillings you pre-cook, too. More seasoning = maximum flavor.

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