Chilean squash and merkén turkey bake with savory oat topping

Name: Chilean squash and merkén turkey bake with savory oat topping
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Chilena
Ingredients: 1 lb 8 oz peeled kabocha or winter squash, diced; 1 lb turkey breast, small diced; 1 1/4 cups onion; 1 cup corn kernels; 2 cups bread soaked in milk; 3/4 cup milk; 5 oz grated chanco cheese; 2/3 cup rolled oats; 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds; 2 eggs; 1/3 cup cream; 2 cloves garlic; 2 tsp merkén; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tbsp butter; 1 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp parsley

An original Chilean-inspired savory bake featuring roasted squash, merkén-seared turkey, sweet onion, corn, and a crunchy topping of oats, cheese, and pumpkin seeds. Cozy, homey, and ideal for a family lunch.

25 minPrep

55 minCook

80 minTotal

6Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g peeled kabocha or winter squash, diced (for roasting)
450 g turkey breast, small diced (skinless)
180 g onion (diced small)
180 g corn kernels (fresh or congelado)
120 g bread soaked in milk (pan of the día anterior, desmenuzado)
180 ml milk (for remojar the pan)
140 g grated chanco cheese (divided)
60 g rolled oats (for the cubierta)
25 g pumpkin seeds (for the cubierta)
2 units eggs (lightly batidos)
80 ml cream (for dar suavidad)
8 g garlic (chopped fino)
6 g merkén (ajustar to taste)
1 g dried oregano
1 g ground cumin
30 ml vegetable oil (divided)
15 g butter (for engrasar and terminar)
8 g salt (or to taste)
2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
10 g parsley (chopped fino)

Nutrition facts

per serving

418 kcal

Calories

28 g

Protein

24 g

Carbs

22 g

Fat

3 g

Fiber

21 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

GlutenDairyEggs

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F. Grease a medium baking dish with the butter.
2
Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Spread on a tray and roast for 25 minutes at 200 °C / 400 °F, until very tender.
3
Meanwhile, soak the bread in the milk for 10 minutes in a large bowl. Then mash it with a fork into a moist mixture.
4
Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
5
Add the turkey to the skillet along with the merkén, oregano, cumin, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring, until the turkey is cooked through and lightly browned.
6
Add the corn to the skillet and cook 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat and mix in the parsley.
7
Transfer the roasted squash to a bowl and mash it roughly. Add the cream, beaten eggs, the milk-soaked bread mixture, and 80 g (about 3 oz) of the grated chanco cheese. Mix well.
8
Add the turkey, onion, and corn mixture to the bowl. Stir until combined and adjust salt if needed.
9
Pour the mixture into the greased baking dish and smooth the top.
10
In a small bowl, combine the oats, pumpkin seeds, the remaining grated chanco cheese, a pinch of merkén, and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle this topping over the bake.
11
Bake at 190 °C / 375 °F for 25 to 30 minutes, until the topping is golden and the center is set.
12
Let rest for 10 minutes before serving so it firms up and portions neatly.

Chef tips

For a more rustic texture, leave a few chunks of squash unmashed. This bake pairs beautifully with a Chilean tomato and onion salad.

Substitutions

You can replace the turkey with chicken. Pumpkin seeds can be swapped for extra oats if you prefer a simpler topping. If chanco cheese is unavailable, use any good melting semi-hard cheese.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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