Butternut Squash Steaks

These butternut squash steaks with brown butter-sage sauce are a great replacement for actual steak! Applying the classic steakhouse butter-basting technique to slabs of butternut squash turns it into a hearty vegetarian main.

Ingredients

• 1 large butternut squash (about 3 lb.), preferably one with a long thick neck
• 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 6 sage leaves
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. Cut the neck off of squash; reserve base for another use. Trim the stem off the neck then peel. Resting neck on cut base, cut in half lengthwise, creating two lobes. Trim off outer rounded side of each piece to create two 3/4"-thick steaks (about 6 oz. per steak); reserve trimmed off sides for another use.
2. Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium. Cook squash steaks, turning every 3 minutes, until deeply browned on both sides and fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Add butter, sage, and garlic to the skillet, tilt the pan toward you so that butter pools on one side, and use a large spoon to continually baste steaks with butter. Cook while basting, until butter is no longer bubbling, smells nutty, and is beginning to brown, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.
3. Transfer squash steaks to plates and spoon sauce over.

Recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit