Description
Roasted butternut squash with cranberries and pecans brings holiday warmth to dinner tables. Mediterranean flavors dance with seasonal ingredients, creating a memorable side dish for winter gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 large butternut squash or 2 small (4–5 cups cubed squash)
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Fat and Sweetener:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 400°F, creating an ideal roasting environment for the vibrant autumn vegetables.
- Gently melt butter and whisk together with brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne to create a rich, aromatic seasoning blend.
- Coat butternut squash cubes thoroughly with three-quarters of the spiced butter mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly seasoned.
- Arrange seasoned squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spreading pieces in a single layer for optimal caramelization.
- Roast squash for 20 minutes, allowing edges to turn golden and develop deep, concentrated flavors.
- Carefully redistribute squash, turning pieces to promote even browning and prevent sticking.
- Toss pecans and cranberries with remaining butter mixture, coating them in the sweet and spicy glaze.
- Sprinkle seasoned pecans and cranberries across the roasted squash, creating a colorful and textural landscape.
- Return to oven for an additional 10 minutes, stirring midway to prevent nuts from burning and ensure uniform roasting.
Notes
- Select squash that feels heavy and has a deep, rich color for maximum sweetness and optimal roasting results.
- Toast pecans lightly before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and create a more complex taste profile.
- Consider swapping butter with olive oil for a vegan-friendly version that maintains rich, caramelized edges on the squash.
- Experiment with maple syrup instead of brown sugar to add deeper, more complex sweetness and create a glossier coating for the vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg