10 Vegetarian butternut squash recipes
Autumn is here, and it brings with it a lot of exciting seasonal vegetables including butternut squash. This smaller, sweeter member of the pumpkin family has a good flavour and is super versatile. Here are our favourite recipes.
Pasta with squash carrot ‘pesto’ and garlic breadcrumbs
Image via Supergolden Bakes
In this modern twist on pesto, spaghetti is coated in a delicious orange sauce.
Butternut squash and carrots are cooked in butter and wine then whizzed up into a ‘pesto’ before being tossed through spaghetti along with garlic breadcrumbs for a very grown up dish.
Get the recipe for pasta with squash carrot ‘pesto’ and garlic breadcrumbs
Read more: 10 Wonderful ways with pumpkin and squash
Cannellini bean dip with butternut squash
Image via Maison Cupcake
Butternut squash and cannellini beans are flavoured with garlic, tahini and lemon juice to make this glorious dip which is very much like a modern hummus.
It’s great served as a dip with crunchy vegetables, but it’s also good spread on sandwiches and wraps.
Get the recipe for cannellini bean dip with butternut squash
Roasted vegetable and chickpea tagine
Image via Tinned Tomatoes
This modern take on an Arabian tagine still has all the flavour of the traditional dish but it’s made in a casserole dish or a roasting pan with seasonal butternut squash, beetroot, red peppers, courgette and chickpeas.
Get the recipe for Roasted vegetable and chickpea tagine
Butternut squash noodles with creamy garlic mushrooms and lentils
Image via Wallflower Kitchen
Butternut squash is combined with creamy mushrooms, lentils and fresh sage. A comforting dish that's healthy, grain-free, low-cal and high protein!
If you don’t have a spiralizer, most supermarkets now sell spiralized vegetables and you can also cheat by buying a fresh cheese sauce.
Get the recipe for butternut squash noodles with creamy garlic mushrooms and lentils
Butternut squash and chickpea curry
Image via Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary
This curry is a simple one with lots of flavouful spices. You can cut down on oil and calories by cooking this in a slow cooker, but it can also be cooked in a pot for a really satisfying autumnal meal.
Serve it with rice or couscous.
Get the recipe for butternut squash and chickpea curry
Honey-roasted sweet potato and squash with halloumi and basil oil
Image via Supergolden Bakes
Want something easy but spectacular for dinner? This is the dish.
The butternut squash and sweet potato are thrown into a roasting pan with spices to work their magic in the oven before the halloumi is added, then the whole dish is finished with a drizzle of basil oil and a scattering of seeds.
Serve with quinoa or couscous.
Get the honey-roasted sweet potato and squash with halloumi and basil oil recipe
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Eat the rainbow pasta
Image via Tinned Tomatoes
Another effortless, but delicious recipe that starts by roasting vegetables in the oven.
This time, it’s a rainbow of vegetables including butternut squash which are mixed through freshly cooked shell pasta with fresh herbs.
The modest dressing really lets the flavour of the vegetables shine. Serve with a glass of chilled white wine.
Get the recipe for eat the rainbow pasta
Chipotle butternut squash and black bean chilli
Image via A Pantry
A warming chilli made with butternut squash and black beans flavoured with a rich collection of spices including chipotle. The perfect dish to cosy up with on a cold night.
Serve it with rice, a glass of beer and an old fashioned movie.
Get the recipe for chipotle butternut squash and black bean chilli
Butternut squash and spinach lasagne
Image via Food to Glow
Lasagne is well loved, but it’s also high calorie and very fattening, so best served only as a treat now and again.
This version substitutes meat with butternut squash and nutmeg flavoured spinach in a rich tomato sauce.
It’s layered up as you would expect, but skip the béchamel sauce and top with slices of mozzarella and a good sprinkling of parmesan instead.
Get the recipe for butternut squash and spinach lasagne
Quick spelt butternut squash cake
Image via Fab Food 4 All
Butternut squash is the perfect ingredient in a savoury dish, but it’s great in a cake too. It works the same way as carrot does in a spicy carrot cake. It leaves you with a really moist, moreish cake.
This time, the grated butternut squash is teamed with raisins, ginger and orange juice to make a heavenly cake topped with a fruity orange cream cheese frosting.
Get the recipe for quick spelt butternut squash cake
Jacqueline Meldrum is a freelance food writer and recipe developer. Jacqueline blogs at Tinned Tomatoes.
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