Hasselback Butternut Squash with Chestnuts, Pecans and Green Sauce

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Author: OcadoLife

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 55 mins

Serves: 6

Created by chef, photographer and author Joe Woodhouse, this Hasselback Butternut Squash with Chestnuts, Pecans and Green Sauce makes a mouthwatering vegan centrepiece to serve up for a special lunch, and is a perfect choice for Christmas. “Hasselbacking (slicing, basically!) results in plenty of caramelised edges and succulent sections to portion out,” says Joe. “It’s a real showstopper, too, so everyone will want to get stuck in – vegan or not!” Looking for more vegan Christmas dinner recipes? Look no further.

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Ingredients Method

Ingredients

1 butternut squash (1-1.2kg), halved lengthways, deseeded
100ml olive oil, plus 4½ tbsp
3 onions, quartered
150g cooked peeled chestnuts, crushed or roughly chopped
100g pecans, crushed or roughly chopped
25g curly parsley, finely chopped
25g mint, leaves picked and finely chopped, plus extra to serve (optional)
1 unwaxed lemon, zested and juiced, plus extra wedges to serve (optional)
50g capers, drained and finely chopped
20g flat-leaf parsley sprigs, to serve (optional)

Method

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 200°C/ 180°C fan/gas 6. Lay the squash halves, cut-side down, on a board. Carefully slice widthways at 1cm intervals, all along the length, being careful not to cut all the way through. (One way to do this is to lie each squash half cut-side down and place a wooden spoon either side of it: the knife will hit the spoons, preventing you from cutting all the way down.)

Step 2

Drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil into a large roasting tin and place the squash halves in it, cut-side down (don’t worry if any sections come apart, just place them back together). Dot the onions around the tin, drizzle with another 2 tbsp oil, season and roast for 45 mins.

Step 3

Meanwhile, put the chestnuts and pecans in a bowl. Add remaining ½ tbsp oil and a pinch of salt; mix well.

Step 4

Scatter the nut mixture over the squash; return to the oven for 10 mins or until crisp.

Step 5

For the sauce, in a small bowl, mix the finely chopped curly parsley and mint with the lemon zest and juice, oil and capers. Season with sea salt and black pepper.

Step 6

Put the squash on a platter with the onions (and lemon wedges and a scattering of flat-leaf parsley and mint, if using). Finish with a grind of black pepper and the sauce spooned over. Store leftovers chilled in an airtight container for 4-5 days.