Double Nut
Butternut meets marcona
Fried heart-shaped marcona almonds from Spain are one of our go-to cheese-plate accompaniments. Chef Mark Mendez, known for pairing seasonal ingredients with Latin classics, takes these slightly sweet nuts from cheese plate to striking side dish by sprinkling them over silky butternut-squash purée at his Chicago restaurant, Vera. Now we have a new reason to enjoy an old favorite.
Butternut Squash with Marcona Almonds
Yield: Serves 4
Cook Time: 1 hour
- INGREDIENTS
1 medium butternut squash (about 3 pounds)--halved lengthwise, seeds removed and discarded
2 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons marcona almonds, coarsely chopped
Flaky sea salt
About The Chef
Mark Mendez, a Chicago native, has worked at Spiaggia in Chicago, then at the now-closed Patria in New York. He returned to Chicago to work at Gioco and Carnivale before opening Vera in 2011.
Vera, 1023 W. Lake St., Chicago; 312-243-9770 or verachicago.com



