Excerpted from Leanne Brown’s Good and Cheap.

The easiest way to cook winter squash is to roast it whole. The inside becomes soft and smooth and you can scoop it out of the skin with ease.

Winter Squash Puree

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter, plus more for the pan
• 1 butternut, kabocha, acorn, delicata, or other winter squash (except spaghetti squash)
• 3 cloves garlic
• salt and pepper, to taste

Additions

• yogurt or sour cream
• brown sugar and cinnamon
• finely chopped chiles
• curry powder
• raisins
• sage

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter a baking sheet.
2. Slice the squash in half using a big, sharp knife. Scoop out the innards. Set the halves facedown on the sheet.
3. Bake in the oven until a knife poked into the squash goes through easily, 30 to 40 minutes.
4. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
5. Scoop the squash into a large bowl with the garlic, the butter from the pan, and any other additions. Stir until smooth. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.