Squash Casserole: Reducing the water content?
I love squash casserole, summer squash or zucchini. I notice when I use the zucchini, there seems to be a much greater water content and it makes it hard to set. The summer squash, although there seems to be less water content, still has a little. The recipe I use calls for boiling the squash first before making the mixture for the casserole.
Any suggestions on when boiling squash, how to reduce the water content? I suppose I could grill them instead? Are there any tricks to be known?
Best Answer
I've roasted vegetables to address the same issue; it definitely works for eggplant and squash. All you have to do is spread them out over a baking sheet or two (if they're piled up the moisture won't escape as well) and roast at say 425F until they're mostly cooked, a bit shrunken down, and obviously not as wet.
Your idea of grilling should work fine too, just maybe a little more work. (...unless you speak British English so grill means broil in American English in which case, basically the same thing.)
The only other thing I can think of is salting it and leaving it out to dry on paper towels, but that sounds like a lot of effort, so unless you really want the squash still raw I'd just precook it.
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Quick Answer about "Squash Casserole: Reducing the water content?"
Remove some of the moisture from the squash before cooking by sprinkling the raw flesh with salt; then place the cut side down on a couple of layers of paper towels and allow it to stand for 20 to 30 minutes. The salt will draw the moisture out and the paper towel will absorb it.How do you keep squash casserole from getting watery?
How do you keep squash casserole from getting watery? It's important to salt, par-cook, and drain the squash before assembling the casserole to prevent it from being watery. The mixture of eggs, sour cream, mayonnaise, and cheese also acts as a binder to thicken.How do you get water out of butternut squash?
Mash: Scoop the flesh from the butternut squash and place into a large bowl. Leave to steam for 5-10mins to allow as much moisture to escape as possible. Pour out any moisture that collects.How do you reduce the water content in zucchini?
Sprinkle the grated zucchini with salt, only to season them, not more. Put them to drain in a colander with a dish underneath. Leave for 1 hour, then, using your hands, squeeze out the excess liquid.Old-School Squash Casserole | Southern Living
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