Appetizer Vegetarian · Appetizers · Do-ahead · Gluten Free

Butternut squash and tahini spread

This is a recipe from the incredible Yotam Ottolenghi who has several restaurants in London.

Serves 6 to 8

This squash spread is very moreish and will keep in a jar in the fridge for several days. In which case, when you want to serve it, bring it back to room temperature before piling on pita bread or crusty bread like hummus.
Date syrup is a wonderful sweetener and has a great depth of richness. If you can’t find it, don’t worry, you can do without it but it adds huge dimension to this dish  it is also available on Amazon and is not expensive.

1 very large butternut squash (2lbs roughly) peeled and cut into chunks
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
Just under 1/3 cup tahini paste (The recipe says 70g, so I am trying to convert it.)
Just under 1 cup of greek Yoghurt (The recipe says 120g)
2 small cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 tsp mixed black and white sesame seeds (or just white if you don’t have black)
1 1/2 tsp date syrup
2 tbsp chopped cilantro (fresh coriander)

Hest the oven to 350F. Spread the squash out on a medium sized baking tray, pour over the olive oil and sprinkle on the cinnamon and salt.
Mix well, cover the tray lightly with aluminum foil and roast for about 70 mins, stirring once during the cooking. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
transfer the cooled squash to the bowl of a food processor along with the tahini, yoghurt and garlic.
Roughly pulse so that everything is combined into a coarse paste- you don’t want it too smooth.
You can also do this by hand using a fork or a masher.
To serve, spread the butternut in a wavy pattern over a flat plate and sprinkle with the sesame seeds, a drizzle of the date syrup and the chopped cilantro.

 

Appetizer Vegetarian · Appetizers · Gluten Free

Roasted butternut squash with sweet spices,tahini, lime and green chili

This is the most amazing mouthful of flavors! A great way to start a meal. Make sure you serve it cold and follow it with a light main course.
Thanks to chef “Yotam Ottolenghi”

Serves 4-6

2 whole limes
4 tbsp olive oil
1 medium butternut squash (about 1 3/4 lbs to 2lbs)
2 tbsp cardamon pods
1 tsp ground allspice
4 oz Greek-style yoghurt
1 oz tahini paste
1 tbsp lime juice
1 green chilli, finely sliced,
a good handful picked cilantro leaves
sea salt to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Trim off the limes’ tops and tails using a small sharp knife. Stand each lime on a chopping board and cut down the sides of the fruit, following it’s natural curves, to remove the skin and white pith.
Quarter the limes from the top to bottom and cut each quarter into thin slices. Place them in a small bowl, sprinkle with a little salt, drizzle with 1 tbsp of the olive, stir and set aside.

Next, cut the butternut in half lengthwise scoop out the seeds and discard. Cut each half in half,and then into 1 cm thick slices, cutting away the peel and lay them out on a large baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper.

Place the cardamon pods in a mortar and pestle and work with a pestle to get the seeds out of the pods.
Discard the pods and work the seeds to a rough powder.
Transfer to a small bowl, add the allspice and the remaining 3 tbsp of oil, stir well and brush this mixture over the butternut slices.
Sprinkle over a little salt and place in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until tender when tested with the point of a knife.
Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, whisk together the yoghurt, tahini, lime juice, 2 tbsp of water and a pinch of salt. The sauce should be thick but runny enough to pour; add more water , if necessary.

To serve, arrange the cooled butternut slices on a serving platter (I prefer individual dishes as it’s neater and prettier) and drizzle with the yoghurt sauce.
Spoon over the lime slices and their juices and scatter the chilli slices over the top.
Garnish with the cilantro and serve.