Description
Roasted chickpea and butternut squash medley balances hearty proteins with sweet, caramelized squash. Mediterranean-inspired spices and fresh herbs elevate this simple, nutritious dish you’ll want to savor slowly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (15 oz/425 g) cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) butternut squash, peeled and cubed into ½ inch pieces (about 4 rounded cups)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more to top
- 2 tbsps olive oil, divided
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup half-and-half
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 6–8 fresh sage leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme (about 10–15 sprigs)
- 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
- Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
Instructions
- Roasting Foundation: Spread butternut squash and whole garlic cloves on an oiled baking sheet, roasting at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until edges caramelize and vegetables develop deep, rich flavors.
- Sauce Preparation: Blend half the roasted squash with milk, half-and-half, roasted garlic, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper until achieving a silky, smooth consistency.
- Assembling Casserole: Combine roasted chickpeas and remaining squash in a casserole dish, then luxuriously drape the velvety butternut sauce over the ingredients, ensuring complete coverage.
- Cheese Embellishment: Lavishly sprinkle Parmesan cheese across the surface, garnishing with additional thyme leaves and a delicate dusting of black pepper.
- Final Baking: Return casserole to the oven, warming for 10 minutes to meld flavors, then activate the broiler for 2-3 minutes to create a golden, lightly crisp cheese topping.
- Resting and Serving: Allow the dish to settle for 10 minutes, permitting flavors to harmonize before presenting this Mediterranean-inspired comfort meal.
Notes
- Maximize Caramelization: Spread vegetables generously on the baking sheet to ensure crispy, golden edges and prevent steaming, which develops deeper flavor profiles.
- Blend for Smoothness: Pulse sauce ingredients multiple times and scrape down sides to create an ultra-creamy, lump-free butternut squash sauce with no raw garlic chunks.
- Cheese Browning Technique: Monitor broiler closely during final 2-3 minutes to achieve perfect golden-brown cheese crust without burning – position rack mid-oven for even heat distribution.
- Resting is Crucial: Let the dish sit for 10 minutes after baking to allow flavors to meld, sauce to slightly thicken, and ingredients to settle into a cohesive, delicious composition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 307
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 15mg