Yellow Squash Souffle Recipe for When You Need “Easy”

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Sneak Peek: This Squash Souffle Recipe is a lightened-up version of a simple but delicious side dish served at one of my favorite restaurants. Combine fresh yellow or other summer squash with various colors of bell peppers, onions, eggs, seasoning, and bread crumbs.

Yellow Squash Souffle in two mini casserole dishes.Pin

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A few years ago, I watched my mother-in-law cook fresh yellow squash. She boiled, mashed, and drained, then added salt and pepper.

What I saw next was an “aha moment.” She added a pinch of sugar. Not much–just enough to bring out the naturally sweet flavor inherent in summer squash.

My mother-in-law was on to something.

Yes. I’ve seen it before.

The “pinch-of-sugar-to-bring-out-the-flavor” trick, that is. My sister does it with salad greens. Grandma used to do it with green beans. Some do it with pie crust. Even gravy! No wonder many of us are addicted to sugar. Good grief!

One of my favorite squash recipes comes from Helen Corbitt’s Cookbook(paid link). I’ve updated this souffle a bit–and, like my mother-in-law, added a pinch of sugar.

To my readers in the North Texas area: This dish reminds me of the yellow squash casserole served at the Black-Eyed Pea restaurant.

Happy Cooks Speak Up

“Love the squash casserole….I wish I would think more about adjusting recipes to smaller amounts. Your servings listed though may be just right for our family of 2 now. ( with a few leftovers.) Amd use of the microwave is great!”DEBBIE


Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Onion: White or yellow onions with a mild flavor work best. If you don’t like to chop fresh onions, use frozen onions.
  • Bell Peppers: I love to use red and orange bell peppers. Green bell peppers are fine if you like the slightly bitter flavor. Yellow peppers don’t appear well next to yellow squash, which is OK, but more color makes a more appetizing dish.
  • Butter: Any butter or margarine will suffice. I haven’t tried vegetable oil instead of butter, but I suspect it would also work.
  • Yellow Squash: Look for small to medium-sized squash. When they get too large, squash is not as tender or flavorful. I’ve tried this recipe with a combination of zucchini, yellow squash, and red peppers. It’s gorgeous and tasty. Crookneck squash and pattypans are also good substitutes for yellow squash. 8-ball squash is another summer squash you could substitute for yellow squash.
  • Eggs: The recipe is designed for large eggs.
  • Bread Crumbs: Use Panko or dried bread crumbs. I prefer to make my bread crumbs to be as fresh as possible. Bread crumbs replace flour like you would use when making a traditional souffle.
  • Salt: Any kind of salt is acceptable.
  • Sugar: Granulated sugar is my secret trick with this recipe. Optional!
  • Pepper: Use freshly ground pepper, if possible. This souffle recipe is mild in general, so the pepper brings it to life.

📌Kitchen Secret📌

  • Although you can make this without a food processor, blender, or immersion blender, it saves time and your arm if you don’t have to do it by hand. Even so, a potato masher works sufficiently well.
  • Drain cooked squash completely. Otherwise, the casserole must be baked longer than expected so it won’t be mushy.
  • Although this is not a traditional souffle with a cream sauce and whipped egg whites, the eggs in this recipe will cause this casserole to rise up like a standard souffle when it’s cooked through…and fall like one, too. Expect it as the casserole cools.

How To Assemble Yellow Squash Souffle

Cutting up yellow squashPin
Wash and cut yellow squash into chunks. There is no need to peel the squash. (Ugh. Ignore the zucchini.)
Cooking squash and peppersPin
Place chopped onions and peppers into a 2-quart microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about 3 minutes on HIGH until soft. Then add raw squash, butter, salt, and pepper.
cooked yellow squash and peppersPin
Cover and microwave on HIGH for 6-10 minutes or until completely soft. Drain. Press and mash on the squash to squeeze out more moisture and drain again.
using immersion blender to mash squashPin
Use a food processor, potato masher, or immersion blender to chop squash and vegetables. This mixture can be slightly chunky.
mixing egg with immersion blenderPin
Mix eggs well. (One of the qualities of this recipe that I appreciate the most is that I don’t have to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites.) Add to squash mixture.
Adding remaining ingredientsPin
Add remaining ingredients, including bread crumbs.
Combining bread crumbs into cooked veggies.Pin
Fold and stir the souffle mixture together. Fill greased individual oven-proof dishes or use a casserole dish instead. Sprinkle the top with pepper if desired.
Colorful Yellow Squash and Peppers Casserole-baked in small ramekinPin
Bake at 350˚ F (180˚C) for 30 minutes.

FAQ About Squash Souffle

Why is my squash casserole watery?

First, make sure the squash is completely cooked so it will release as much moisture as possible. Second, make sure you drain it well. Mash it to squeeze out as much water as possible, as you might do with spinach.

Do you peel yellow squash?

Yellow squash has thin and tender skin. There is no need to peel it unless your squash has sustained an injury you want to remove.

How do I know when this souffle is done?

Testing a souffle should be done carefully with a small paring knife. After you push the knife into the middle, it should come out clean.

What’s the difference between summer squash and yellow squash?

According to Kitchn.com, “The term summer squash encompasses many varieties of fresh squash harvested mostly in the summer months. These summer squash varieties include zucchini, many types of yellow summer squash, and pattypans.”

Parting thoughts: Yellow squash is my favorite of all the different types of summer squash, so I have a collection of recipes for it. These Simple Squash Patties are so fun to eat and dip. Check out this Roasted Yellow Squash with Parmesan if you prefer roasted veggies. Those crispy slices are hard to quit eating!

Over to you: What food (that is not dessert) do you add a pinch of sugar to bring out the natural flavors?


Help at Your Fingertips: For questions or suggestions, email Paula at saladinajar.com. If you need help, I’m happy to troubleshoot via email (faster than leaving a comment). Attach pictures and as many details as possible for the best advice.

yellow squash souffle in a n individual serving dishPin
Yield: 6 servings

Baked Yellow Squash Soufflé

Fresh yellow squash makes a delicious but simple casserole similar to that served at Black-Eyed Pea restaurants in the South.

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5 from 2 votes
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Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup (50 g) frozen chopped onions
  • cup (49 g) frozen chopped red bell peppers I buy fresh peppers, chop, and freeze
  • 2 tablespoons (28 g) butter
  • 2 pounds (906 g) yellow squash (cut in large chunks) 4 medium squash
  • 2 (100 g) large eggs
  • ¾ cup (45 g) panko or dried fresh bread crumbs
  • ½ teaspoon table or sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350˚ F (180˚C).

  • Place 1/2 cup (50 g) frozen chopped onions, 1/3 cup (49 g) frozen chopped red bell peppers, and 2 tablespoons (28 g) butter in the bottom of a 2-quart glass batter bowl or a similar-sized microwave-safe dish. Microwave on HIGH for 2-1/2 to 3 minutes until veggies are softened
  • Layer 2 pounds (906 g) yellow squash (cut in large chunks) on top of the onion and red bell peppers. Cover and cook on HIGH in a microwave for 10 minutes or until veggies are completely cooked.
  • Drain off as much liquid as possible. Mash and press on the cooked vegetables to extract more water, then drain again.
  • Pour cooked vegetables into a food processor, or use a potato masher or an immersion blender. Pulse about 5 times, rearranging squash with a spoon if necessary to get an even chop. The mixture should not be smooth–just slightly chunky.
  • Thoroughly mix 2 (100 g) large eggs with a fork, whisk, or immersion blender. Add to the squash along with 3/4 cup (45 g) panko or dried fresh bread crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon (½ teaspoon) table or sea salt, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, and freshly ground pepper to taste. Fold ingredients together and pour into a well-greased 1-quart oven-safe dish or individual dishes as pictured.
  • Bake at 350˚ F (180˚C) for 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 16 | Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 303mg | Potassium: 469mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 758IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg

All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com

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9 Comments

  1. Can you use frozen squash from the garden instead?

    1. Yes. You will want to drain it well, just like you would fresh squash.

  2. I don’t understand the onions and peppers being frozen. Can’t you just use fresh, or do you actually need it to be frozen?

    Also, can you use zucchini in place of the yellow squash? It sounds fantastic! Can’t wait to make it.

    1. Betty,
      No, the onions and peppers do not need to be frozen. Thanks for pointing that out. I just use them for convenience since I buy them on sale and freeze them myself. Haven’t tried this with zucchini. If you do, let me know how it goes. Thanks so much for writing.

  3. Sounds great!! We love squash!!! Thanks. 5 stars.
    Recommended you!

    1. Thanks for the pie crust recipe Mimi.

  4. TheKitchenWitch says:

    I’ll bet this one is a lot healthier than the one at The Black Eyed Pea, too! I’m trying this!

  5. Love the squash casserole. My dad made one that was wonderful as well. I wish I would think more about adjusting recipes to smaller amounts. Your servings listed though may be just right for our family of 2 now. ( with a few leftovers.) Amd use of the micorwave is great!