No one in their right mind would ever think of chili cheese fries as a guilt-free food. But we're only human, and we LOOOOOOOVE fries smothered in chili and topped with cheese! Plus we promised you guys a swap a few months back, so we had no choice but to create a ROCKIN' version based on our famous
Bake-tastic Butternut Squash Fries (and we're so glad we did!). Check it out...
Ingredients:
1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds -- large enough to yield 20 ounces uncooked flesh)
1 cup low-fat veggie or turkey chili
1/2 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
1/8 tsp. kosher (or regular) salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
Optional Toppings: fat-free sour cream, chopped scallions
Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Use a sharp knife to remove the ends of the squash. Cut squash in half widthwise (making it easier to manage) and then peel squash halves using a vegetable peeler or a knife. Cut squash in half lengthwise, and then scoop out all the seeds. Next, cut squash into french fry shapes (for best results, try to keep them even in size). Using a paper towel, pat squash pieces firmly to absorb any excess moisture. Place squash in a bowl, add a light mist of nonstick spray, and sprinkle with salt and cayenne pepper. Toss squash to evenly distribute salt and pepper, and then transfer to a large baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray. Use 2 pans if needed. Squash pieces should lie flat in the pan. Place pan(s) in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or so (longer for thick-cut fries, shorter for skinnier fries), flipping halfway through baking. Fries are done when they are starting to brown on the edges and get crispy. Leaving the oven on, transfer fries to a large oven-safe plate. Prepare the chili as directed on the package, and then pour it over the fries. Sprinkle with cheese, and place the plate in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Carefully remove from the oven and, if you like, top with sour cream and scallions. Makes 2 enormous and amazingly delicious servings.
