Butternut Squash Tahini Dip

Butternut Squash Tahini Dip

Recipe credits: Rafaella Sargi

Ingredients
1 butternut squash (medium size, around 1.2 kg / 2 lb 10 oz)*
1 garlic clove, grated
1/2 cup tahini
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Topping suggestions
Option 1:
Pomegranate seeds
Dried oregano (or zaatar mix)
Fresh thyme
Extra virgin olive oil

Option 2:
Fried sage leaves
Espelette pepper
Extra virgin olive oil

Directions
You will need one steamer pot or small pot with a steam basket and a lid, a food processor (blade attachment), and a medium bowl.

Peel, seed and cut the butternut squash into 2 inch (5 cm) cubes approximately. Try to have them into even sized pieces (as much as possible), they’ll all cook at the same time.*
Fill the pot with 2 inch of water and place the butternut squash pieces in the steamer basket. Cover and let it cook for 20 to 25 minutes.

Test a piece with a fork, you want it to be extremely soft, no resistance to mushy-approach. ;)
Place the steamed butternut squash in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Mix until completely pureed. You will end up with approximately 2 cups of butternut squash puree.

Transfer the butternut quash puree to as medium bowl.
Add the grated garlic, tahini, sea salt and lemon juice.
Mix until homogenous.
Taste and correct seasoning.

Serve in a shallow plate or a bowl, add extra virgin olive oil and your favorite topping combination.
Bon appétit! :)

*Butternut squash: once peeled and seeded, the butternut squash pieces weighed 650 g (1 lb 7 oz).

**Note on cooked butternut squash: During the development of the recipe, I “encountered” a few butternut squash more watery than others. If you feel the puree is too dry, you can add on teaspoon of the steaming water to liquify the puree. Always keep in mind to add one small amount at a time,… you can always add more but won’t be able to remove any!

*** Can we use canned butternut squash puree? Of course you can, but the texture won’t be as silky and the flavors not as bright, so correct the seasoning accordingly.