Description
Chefs craft this hasselback butternut squash delight with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients that elevate seasonal produce. Layers of herbal complexity and roasted golden edges invite hungry palates to savor each carefully prepared bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 butternut squash (large, about 3 lbs / 1.36 kg)
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 6 to 8 sage leaves (fresh)
- 1 tbsp (15 g) kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) maple syrup (pure)
- ¼ to ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- ¼ cup pistachios or pepitas (salted, chopped)
- ¼ cup cherries (dried)
- 2 tbsps pomegranate seeds
- 2 tbsps parsley (finely chopped)
Instructions
- Preparation Setup: Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C), positioning rack centrally for consistent heat circulation.
- Squash Preparation: Halve butternut squash lengthwise, scoop out seeds, and carefully peel exterior using a sharp vegetable peeler, creating a smooth surface for seasoning.
- Initial Seasoning: Thoroughly coat squash with olive oil, generously distribute kosher salt and black pepper, ensuring complete flavor infusion across entire surface.
- First Roasting Phase: Place squash cut-side down in ceramic baking dish, roast until edges begin caramelizing and surfaces soften (15-20 minutes), developing rich underlying flavors.
- Glaze Creation: Whisk maple syrup, additional olive oil, and red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl, crafting a vibrant, nuanced coating that will elevate the squash’s natural sweetness.
- Precision Cutting: Cool slightly, then position wooden chopsticks alongside squash halves as cutting guides, creating elegant thin shingles without completely separating sections.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Interlace fresh sage leaves between newly formed squash shingles, introducing complex herbal undertones and visual sophistication.
- Glazing and Final Roasting: Drizzle half the maple mixture over sculpted squash, reapply seasoning, then return to oven, basting periodically until edges crisp and interior becomes luxuriously tender (45-60 minutes).
Notes
- Knife Mastery: Use a sharp chef’s knife and steady hand when slicing to create precise, uniform cuts without breaking the squash structure.
- Chopstick Technique: Wooden chopsticks prevent accidental over-cutting, creating beautiful accordion-like slices while keeping the base intact.
- Glaze Application: Brush maple glaze generously and repeatedly to develop deep caramelization and prevent squash from drying out during extended roasting.
- Temperature Control: Monitor oven heat carefully; lower temperature slightly if edges brown too quickly to ensure even, tender cooking throughout the squash.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 80 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg