One of the best parts of Thanksgiving dinner is the side dishes; it seems you can never have too many. However, most of us don't have enough oven space to bake too many, since the turkey takes up lots of oven space, as well as the stuffing, rolls, etc. It's nice to have a few really good side dishes that can be cooked in the slow cooker; slow cooker don't take up oven space, and they are great for buffets since the food stays hot while serving. Butternut squash is especially good in this yummy Slow Cooker Curried Butternut Squash. As a bonus, it's vegan, as well as dairy and gluten free. Other winter squashes can be used, such as delicato, acorn, banana, turban, Hubbard, kabacha, or any of dozens of other varieties.

This recipe is versatile, not only because you can use almost any winter squash, but also because you can use any type of curry paste. Madras, or Indian curry paste is good, but Thai curry pastes are a favorite with the official Hancock tasters; they range from very mild (yellow), to hot (green). Red is medium-hot and Panang is slightly milder and includes crushed peanuts. The only other ingredients are a can of coconut milk, a chopped onion, and some sea salt. This dish is so easy (and so good), you'll find yourself making it over and over again.

8 Servings

1 large onion, chopped
2 pounds butternut squash, cubed
1 15 oz. can unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon curry paste, (Thai red, green, yellow, or Panang, or Indian)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)

1. Place the onion on the bottom of a 3-5 quart slow cooker; top with the butternut squash.
2. Mix the coconut milk and curry paste; pour over the squash and sprinkle with sea salt.
3. Cover, set the slow cooker to low, and let cook 4-6 hours (high 2-3 hours), or until the squash is cooked through.
4. Stir and serve.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 104
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 55% Protein 6% Carb. 39%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 12 g
Saturated Fat 10 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 245 mg
Total Carbohydrate 18 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 3 g

Vitamin A 177% Vitamin C 45% Calcium 0% Iron 15%