Autumn recipes from Howard County chefs

For the smoked sweet potato mash:
5 large sweet potatoes, peeled
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 ½ ounces butter
1 ¼ tablespoons kosher salt
3 tablespoons heavy cream
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer. Place sweet potatoes in the water and cook until tender all the way through. (Time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes.)

2. Drain the liquid from the potatoes and place on a hot grill for five minutes to add smoky flavor to the potatoes. (This step is optional.)

3. Place the smoked sweet potatoes into a mixing bowl and add remaining ingredients.

4. Mash the potatoes by hand using a masher, or puree with a mixer.

For the butternut squash curry:
2 onions, diced
2 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped
8 garlic cloves, minced
½ ounce fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
Oil for saute
6 teaspoons ground cumin
4 teaspoons ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground coriander
4 teaspoons sweet paprika
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons tomato paste
6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 ½ ounces fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Kosher salt to taste

1. Set a pan over medium-high heat and cover the bottom with cooking oil. Add the onion, garlic, ginger and butternut squash.

2. When the squash starts to become tender, add the cumin, turmeric, coriander, paprika and curry powder and cook until fragrant.

3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the pumpkin puree and tomato paste. Stir until evenly combined.

4. Add the flour and stir until the vegetables are coated.

5. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Cook until the mixture is reduced by about half.

6. Remove the sauce from the heat and, working in batches if necessary, puree in a blender.

7. Once pureed, use a fine mesh strainer to strain out any remaining vegetable bits. Season to taste with kosher salt.

For the chicken:
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons ground cumin
5 tablespoons smoked paprika
3 tablespoons ground coriander
6 tablespoons granulated garlic (not garlic powder)
6 tablespoons kosher salt
5 tablespoons brown sugar
4 skin-on chicken breasts
Oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. To make the spice rub, combine cinnamon, cumin, paprika, coriander, garlic, salt and brown sugar in a bowl. Mix until evenly combined.

3. Rub the chicken breasts generously with oil and the spice rub.

4. Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a greased pan and cover with foil.

5. Place in oven and roast until they are three-quarters of the way cooked, about 12 minutes.

6. Remove the foil and cook until the skin is crispy and the chicken is cooked all of the way through, about another 5 minutes.

7. Serve the chicken with smoked sweet potato mash, butternut squash curry and a seasonal vegetable of your choice.

For the butternut squash puree:
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, halved and diced
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, peeled
2 leaves fresh sage
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pinch of cinnamon
1 pinch of pumpkin spice
White pepper to taste
5 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place the butternut squash on a baking sheet. Roast, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes, until tender.

3. In a soup pot placed over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, sage and one teaspoon of salt, sauteeing until the onion is soft and golden brown.

4. Add the roasted pieces of butternut squash and season with the cinnamon, pumpkin spice, white pepper and remaining teaspoon of salt. Stir for a few seconds.

5. Add the chicken stock and white balsamic vinegar. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for about 20 minutes.

6. Set aside and let slightly cool.

7. Strain the pulp from the liquid and, working in small batches, puree using an immersion blender. If the puree is too thick, add liquid until it is a smooth and creamy consistency.

8. Set aside and keep warm while preparing the other ingredients.

For the mushrooms:
½ pound royal trumpet mushrooms, sliced ¼ inch thick
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
¼ teaspoon dry oregano
¼ teaspoon garlic puree
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Toss the mushrooms in a bowl with the parsley, thyme, oregano, garlic and enough olive oil to coat the mushrooms. Toss until the oil and dry ingredients are evenly distributed.

3. Spread the mushrooms on a baking sheet. Cook for about 12 to 14 minutes, flipping halfway through the process.

4. After cooking, add salt and pepper to taste, set aside and keep warm.

For the fish:
¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup California walnuts, finely ground (pulsed in a food processor)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 8-ounce halibut fillets

1. To make the walnut crust, toss the panko breadcrumbs and walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes, tossing often. They will become lightly toasted and fragrant. Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the butter and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Mix until well-incorporated.

2. Lay a large piece of parchment paper on a counter and top with the crust mixture. Cover with another large piece of parchment paper. Press down to flatten slightly. Then, with a rolling pin, roll out to ¼ inch thick.

3. Place the crust on a flat surface in a freezer to set. Remove after about 15 to 20 minutes.

4. Preheat the broiler on high.

5. Remove the crust from the freezer and, keeping the parchment paper on, use kitchen shears to cut two pieces of crust the same size as the halibut fillets.

6. Working with a nonstick saute pan, evenly heat extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat.

7. Season the fillets with the other ½ teaspoon of kosher salt.

8. Once the oil is hot and smoking, add the halibut fillets and sear for 5 minutes on one side. Flip and sear for 3 minutes on the other side.

9. Remove one side of the parchment paper from the crust and top each piece of halibut.

10. Transfer the saute pans from the stove top to under the broiler and broil for about 2 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and toasted.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Season the squash with salt and pepper to taste. Place in a cast-iron pan and place in the oven, roasting until fork-tender, about 25 minutes.

3. In a mixing bowl, combine sage, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste, olive oil, lemon zest and lemon juice. Mix in ricotta until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

4. In a food processor, chop pepitas, then add pumpkin seed oil and pulse until the combination is course texture but still runny enough to run off a spoon.

5. Separate the leaves of the endive, treviso and tardive. Dress them with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

6. To finish, on a large plate, spoon some of the herbed ricotta cheese in the middle, then arrange the butternut squash pieces and lettuce leaves around the outside of the plate. Drizzle the pumpkin seed gremolata over the dish.