Many of us are approaching the holidays differently this year and embracing new traditions. Some of us have never been in charge of the whole Thanksgiving meal before, but find ourselves cooking the big dinner for our immediate family or those who we live with. Others may be used to hosting a large gathering, but now need to scale back the tried and true holiday menu to serve just one or two people. Either way, this simple recipe fits right in. It doesn't take a lot of time, skill or effort, and spices up a classic seasonal side dish -- the humble squash -- in a whole new way.
We added the earthiness of cumin, the heat of cayenne and a little crunch from pepitas (pumpkin seeds) to make simple roasted butternut squash more than just a vitamin-packed side dish. It's an addition to your holiday table that will definitely make you want to go back for seconds.
You may even come back to this recipe all winter long. It works well on just an average weeknight when you're looking to get a healthy dinner on the table. (If it's in your budget, save some time and buy pre-cut squash from the grocery store.)
Roasted Butternut Squash With Spicy Pepitas
(Download a printable pdf of this recipe)
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup unsalted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, cut into 1-inch chunks (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 Tablespoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a small mixing bowl, combine 1 Tablespoon olive oil, pumpkin seeds, garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, toss squash, cumin, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Spread squash into single layer on baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and add pumpkin seeds. Stir to combine evenly on baking sheet. Roast for an additional 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 135 calories; 9 grams Fat; 1 gram Saturated fat; 0 mg Cholesterol; 146 mg Sodium;13 grams Carbohydrates; 3 grams Fiber; 3 grams Protein
Looking for more info and want to make an appointment with a registered dietitian? Call 1-855-434-5483or visit Nutrition Services on henryford.com.
