Butternut Squash Hummus. New Music From Paul De Leon.

I adore hummus and love to try lots of variations. Some favorites are Pomegranate Hummus, Avocado Hummus, Lime Avocado Hummus and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.

I was really excited when I saw this Butternut Squash Hummus in Ina Garten’s latest cookbook dedicated to her husband’s favorite things. (It is a super sweet read). Cinnamon and maple syrup add a hint of sweetness which is countered by a good dose of sriracha and garlic. I love the roasted squash garnish.

Butternut Squash Hummus

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas, drained with liquid reserved
1/2 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste)
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon Sriracha
Pure Grade A maple syrup, for serving
Toasted pita bread, for serving

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400℉.

2. Place the butternut squash on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with the cinnamon, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Toss well and spread the squash out in a single layer on the pan.

3. Roast squash for 25 minutes, until tender, and set aside for 15 minutes to cool.

4. Reserve 1/4 cup of squash for the garnish and transfer the rest to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade.

5. Add the chickpeas, yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, Sriracha, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to the squash and pulse until coarsely processed but not puréed. Add 1/4 cup of the reserved chickpea liquid and pulse a few times to combine. If the hummus is too thick, add more liquid a few tablespoons at a time.

6. Taste hummus for seasonings and transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with the reserved butternut squash, drizzle with maple syrup and serve with the toasted pita bread.

Serves 6 to 8

Recipe slightly adapted from Cooking for Jeffrey by Ina Garten