Puffed Baked Yuca-Squash Puree

This pretty pale orange puree, smooth and slightly sweet, makes a festive meal with a roast and bitter greens. Or serve larger portions as part of an all-vegetable meal, with broccoli and wheat pilaf. A caveat: Yuca may take as little as 15 minutes of simmering to become soft—or as much as an hour. Baking time will also vary, depending upon how much moisture remains in the puree. Nevertheless, results are deliciously dependable. You can even prepare the mixture ahead, refrigerate, then brin