(updated December 1, 2023) // by Phoebe Lapine // 23 comments
4.86 from 7 votes
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I have a love/hate relationship with butternut squash.
I love eating it. But every time I perch one on my cutting board to peel, I think to myself: today will finally be the day when I call Charlie from the emergency room having just accidentally amputated a finger.
Not having to peel any gourds is just one of the reasons to love this cheesy, warm butternut squash dip. But it may be the biggest revelation.
After taking on the ambitious task of adding butternut squash to my Thanksgiving stuffing last year, I pretty much thought my hands would never return to their pre-leprosy state. All the peeling left my paws looking as orange and opaque as the outside of a carrot. I considered myself in butternut squash retirement for the foreseeable future.
That was, until I realized I could just roast the whole damn thing.
Though I’m a longtime butternut squash soup lover, I somehow always took the scenic route (i.e. peeling, cubing, roasting) instead of just doing the cooking equivalent of Google Maps and taking the far more direct, painless, sensible path. This is very unlike me. In the kitchen, as on the road, I’m a much bigger fan of the easy way than what so and so’s grandmother has been doing for decades. So it’s crazy that I hadn’t adopted this halve-and-then-roast short cut of my butternut squash dip until now.
Once you bake the squash for 45 minutes or so, until fork tender, you simply scoop out the flesh and stir it together with some garlic and herbs. Since it’s Super Bowl season and this dip is meant to be shared with your slightly more hedonistic friends, I mixed in a little Greek Yogurt and cheese. You can use mayo instead if you’re looking to cut down on the dairy. Similarly, you can omit the cheese. But the nutty gruyere and pistachio topping is well worth the potential lactose bloat, in my humble opinion.
For more gluten-free dip ideas check out these fan favorites:
- Smoked Salmon Dip with Cream Cheese
- Green Goddess Dip
- Gluten-Free Spinach Dip
- Healthy French Onion Dip
- Artichoke Hummus
- Roasted Beet Hummus
- Gluten-Free Hot Crab Dip
- Sweet Potato Hummus
Wishing you all a happy game day, and hope that this easy butternut squash dip makes an appearance on your coffee table with the best gluten-free crackers! At least you won’t require a new pair of mittens to hide your hands afterwards.
With health and hedonism,
Phoebe
Warm Butternut Squash Dip with Gruyere and Pistachios
This butternut squash dip is a fantastic vegetarian, healthy appetizer option for a party (especially Super Bowl Sunday!) or a gluten-free snack for the whole family.
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour
Servings 6
Author Phoebe Lapine
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Rub with olive oil and salt and arrange cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes, or until a fork easily slides in and out of the non-hallow half.
When cool enough to touch, scoop out the squash flesh and reserve in a bowl. Stir in the garlic, yogurt, ¾ cup cheese, cayenne and parsley. Taste for seasoning and add more salt as necessary (you’ll probably need ½ teaspoon). Transfer to an oven safe ramekin or casserole and top with the remaining cheese and nuts.
Bake until the cheese is melted (be careful not to burn the nuts), about 10 minutes.
Serve immediately with gluten-free crackers.
Nutrition
Serving: 6g
If you make this, tag @phoebelapine and #feedmephoebe – I’d love to see it!
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Comments
Pamela M. says I use an even easier way with butternut squash: I put the whole thing (not halved) into my slow cooker! for a few hours to soften it up. Then it is really easy to peel, de-seed and chop.
If the squash is too big to fit, cut the bulbed end off, or cut it any which ways to get it to fit.
FYI I do this for spaghetti squash too, and potatoes – just throw into the slow cooker to soften up until I figure out what to do next. This way of cooking may be too slap-dash for you, but it works for me, and I eat a lot of winter squash as a result 🙂Reply
- Sarah G says
Pamela that is amazing!!! Thanks for sharing that tip, I never would have thought of it. I also love Kobocha squash and they are even harder to peel IMO – I’m going to try out this tip. Thanks!
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- Phoebe Lapine says
Report back Sarah!!
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- Phoebe Lapine says
I am fascinated by this!! Will have to give it a try! Thank you so much for sharing Pamela. Genius!
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- Little Cooking Tips says
Peeling the squash was always a reason we didn’t use it often. And you’re right; why not roast the whole damn thing and scoop it out?:) Gruyere is fantastic, but we also have a good piece of San Michalis cheese in the fridge, which is complex in flavors, that’ll be perfect for this!:) Can’t wait to try that one Phoebe!
thank you so much!
xoxoxoReply
- Phoebe Lapine says
ooo will have to see if they have that cheese in the states! xoxox
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- Beth says
I try to eat local, and our CSA provided us with freshly frozen (peeled!) butternut squash. It is about one pound. Is there a way to make this recipe work with frozen squash or would the texture/consistency be off?
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- Phoebe Lapine says
what a dream!! yes – I would roast it at 350/375 until soft. You don’t necessarily want to caramelize it – just want it to be soft and smashable. let me know how it goes!
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- Diane C says
Made this for a holiday party. Prepared the recipe up to the last part of step 3 in advance, then topped with cheese and pistachios and threw in the oven just before guests arrived. I really liked it as an alternative to a greasy artichoke dip or something. Will make again.Reply
- Phoebe Lapine says
yay thanks Diane!
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- Kathleen Rivers says
I want to try this!! What kind of crackers have you found to be compliant with the SIBO Specific Diet? Thanks!
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- Phoebe Lapine says
Butternut squash is only FODMAP friendly in 1/4 cup quantities FYI. I’m not sure about the crackers, they would have to be paleo, I believe.
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- Becky says
This will be a go to recipe for me in the fall. It was excellent!Reply
