She Strengthens

Elevate Your Holiday Table with a Show-Stopping Butternut Squash Recipe

This Thanksgiving, why settle for the same old side dishes when you can wow your guests with a stunning, flavorful, and vegan-friendly centerpiece? Introducing the Hasselback technique, a game-changing method that’s not just for potatoes.

The Origins of Hasselback

This clever technique gets its name from a Swedish restaurant called Hasselbacken, where it was first popularized. But what makes it so special? The secret lies in the series of narrow, shallow cuts that allow flavors to penetrate deep into your chosen ingredient – in this case, butternut squash.

Maple Hasselback Butternut Squash: A Recipe to Impress

This show-stopping recipe combines the natural sweetness of butternut squash with the richness of maple syrup, the crunch of walnuts, and the pop of pomegranate seeds. The result is a dish that’s both visually stunning and bursting with flavor.

The Magic of Maple Syrup

In this recipe, a mixture of maple syrup, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes is poured into the Hasselback incisions, ensuring that every bite is infused with a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.

Get Ready to Roast

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and halved lengthwise
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for oiling
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 fennel bulb, core removed, thinly sliced
• 1 cup walnuts
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds
• Flaky sea salt, to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Rub the squash halves with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Roast the squash for 30 minutes, then carefully remove it from the baking sheet and cut it halfway down in ¼-inch incisions.
4. Combine the maple syrup mixture and pour it into the incisions.
5. Spread the fennel around the squash and roast for 30 minutes, until the fennel starts to brown and the squash begins to caramelize.
6. Add the walnuts and roast for 5 more minutes.
7. Serve topped with pomegranate seeds and flaky sea salt.

The Result? A Truly Unforgettable Dish

This maple Hasselback butternut squash recipe is sure to be the star of your holiday table. With its stunning presentation, complex flavors, and satisfying textures, it’s a dish that will leave your guests in awe. So why settle for ordinary when you can create something truly extraordinary?