Red Kuri Squash Strudel

Today, we are going to challenge the very essence of pumpkin preparation. We are not merely using the squash; we are honoring it, from its sturdy stem to its very last seed. Our goal is an entirely waste-free, deeply creative Autumn dish I call Red Kuri Squash Strudel. This isn't just about roasting a vegetable and wrapping it in pastry. This is a full celebration of the gourd's potential. We begin with a beautiful red kuri squash. Its pear shape, the yellow color of its flesh and its chestnut flavor have earned it the name of chestnut squash Potimarron in French. Instead of discarding the "guts," we see them as the foundation of our dish. Those slippery seeds and fibrous threads are not scrap; they are treasure. This will become the astonishing base for our sauce. Meanwhile, the sweet, dense flesh and skin of the squash will be roasted until it is deeply caramelized and tender. We'll then puree it with fresh goat cheese, cooked again to concentrate flavors and fold it with chestnuts into a velvety filling, which we will encase in whisper-thin layers of filo dough. As it sears, the strudel will transform into a shatteringly crisp, golden parcel, a textural dream that gives way to the warm, spiced heart within. It will be served resting in a moat of that luscious red kuri squash sauce, alongside a tangle of slowly braised leeks, their sweetness having been coaxed out over low heat until they are meltingly soft. So, let's begin. Take your squash, feel its weight, and let's create something truly unique together.