Butternut Squash Cheesy Balls

The Holidays are getting closer and closer and I’m already thinking about a tasty and yummy menu for my family, super kid friendly 😉

Butternut squash (or pumpkin or any variety of squash) is now in season and is a must for the Holiday table. I’ve been preparing it in so many ways (lasagne filling or pasta sauce, roasted, turkey stuffing…) and today I would like to share with you a very tasty butternut squash recipe that can be an appetizer or a light entree for your Holiday menu.

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The cheesy butternut squash balls can be prepared in advance and frozen before baking. The day of the party you simply bake them directly from the freezer adding 5 minutes to the suggested baking time. Yum!!

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Butternut squash cheesy balls
Ingredients
  • 1 medium butternut squash peeled, cut in cubes and roasted (250gr.)
  • 9 oz. ricotta cheese 250gr.
  • 1 Tbsp parsley minced
  • 3 small potatoes boiled and mashed
  • 1 cup Pecorino cheese 70gr.
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs 100gr.
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
For the coating:
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs + 1 Tbsp sweet paprika
Instructions
  1. Peel the butternut squash and chop it in small pieces.
  2. Place the butternut squash on a baking sheet lined with some parchment paper: roast in preheated oven at 220C/425F for 25minutes
  3. Meanwhile boil the potatoes (peeled): 20 min from when the water starts boiling.
  4. In a bowl add the roasted butternut squash and the ricotta cheese.
  5. Using an immersion blender create a smooth puree: you can always use a food processor or a blender, I like the immersion blender as there are less pieces to clean 😉
  6. Add the mashed potatoes, eggs, pecorino cheese, breadcrumbs, sweet paprika, parsley, salt
  7. mix everything
  8. Create tiny small balls with your hands
  9. Coat them with a breadcrumbs and paprika mix
  10. Place on a parchment paper on a baking sheet
  11. Drizzle some Extra Virgin Olive Oil on top
  12. Bake in preheated oven at 400F/180C for 20 min.
  13. Enjoy!

5 Comments

Did you make this recipe? Share the love, tag @buonapappa on Instagram and hashtag it #buonapappa I would love to see your creations!

  • Reply
    Pretty in Pistachio | Love List 11/16/16: Bite Sized Friendsgiving | Pretty in Pistachio
    November 16, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    […] 6. Butternut Squash Cheesy Croquettes, Buona Pappa […]

    • Reply
      Susan cerantola
      October 3, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      Hi I just made this recipe according to the recipe posted on the site however I notice in your video you used a whole butternut squash and six potatoes was this for a larger amount ? 250 grams of butternut squash is not much just want to make sure I am doing this correctly ! Love love all your recipes! Making this now for
      My grandson hope I am doing this right!

      • User Avatar
        Reply
        Barbara Lamperti
        October 19, 2020 at 4:46 pm

        Hi Susan! I confirm the quantities on the recipe card: same quantity of ricotta, roasted squash and potatoes. The proportion are 1/3 of each. So 250gr for the ricotta and roasted squash and 3 small potatoes. When I film the recipes I sometimes cook bigger quantities (to freeze the leftover for the family or just because I need some ingredients as props in the final image). Let me know if you have any more question and I hope your grandson will enjoy the squash cheesy balls!! Ciao, b

  • Reply
    Izzy
    April 20, 2020 at 4:52 am

    I accidentally place everythg in food processor n now it’s a soft puree. What shud I do. I can’t roll it into a ball

    • User Avatar
      Reply
      Barbara Lamperti
      June 18, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      Hi! Don’t worry, it happens 🙂
      To thicken the mix you have few options: add more breadcrumbs or potatoes (if you have some extra already boiled). They will dry up the other ingredients and create more body 🙂 Ciao! b

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