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Creamy Honey Nut Squash & Garlic Butter Beans with Smoky Tempeh Crunch

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 4 -5
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Ingredients

  • 1 medium honey nut squash (about 585 grams)
  • 1 bulb garlic
  • 227 gram block tempeh
  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil, plus extra
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon regular paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Tamari
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups vegetable stock, plus extra
  • 2 540mL (18oz) cans butter beans, drained and rinsed (about 4 cups)
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 chili
  • 1 tablespoon thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

For Serving

  • chopped toasted walnuts
  • chopped parsley
  • chili oil
  • crusty bread

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line both a half sheet pan and a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper.
  • Cut off the top ½ inch from the garlic bulb. Place the garlic bulb inside a sheet of foil. Drizzle the top with olive oil and then wrap it up tightly in the foil. Place on the quarter sheet pan. Cut the honey nut squash in half lengthwise and place, cut side down, on the quarter sheet pan. Roast until the squash is soft and garlic is sufficiently browned/soft, about 35 minutes. Let them cool slightly.
  • In a medium bowl, crumble the tempeh into little pieces with your hands. To the bowl, add the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, regular paprika, Tamari, maple syrup, salt and pepper. Toss to coat and then arrange on the half sheet pan, spreading it out. Roast in the oven until browned and a little crunchy on the edges, about 20-25 minutes.
  • While squash/tempeh is roasting, chop the onion and mince the chili/thyme.
  • Scoop out and discard the seeds from the squash. Scoop out all the cooked flesh and place in an upright blender. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of the bulb into the blender as well. Pour in the vegetable stock and season with salt and pepper. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Set aside.
  • Set a deep skillet or braiser on the stove over medium heat. Drizzle a bit of olive oil and add the onions. Sauté until very soft and translucent, about 7-8 minutes. Add the chili and thyme and sauté another minute. Add the butter beans and season with salt and pepper. Stir. Pour in the honey nut squash sauce and stir.
  • Bring the beans to a boil and simmer until the sauce thickens around the beans a bit. If the sauce is too thick, pour in some extra stock, a couple tablespoons at a time. Once you’re ready, stir in the lemon juice.
  • To serve, top each portion of butter beans with smoky tempeh crunch, chopped walnuts, parsley, and chili oil. Enjoy straight away!

Recipe Notes

  • I really have to insist on honey nut squash here (not butternut)! Just way more flavor and sweetness which is key for the minimal ingredients in the “sauce.”
  • I used an extremely hot jalapeño from my garden for the chili. Use any chili you like/can tolerate.
  • A lot of action is happening in the oven. You’ll need to set one timer for the squash/garlic and one for the tempeh.
These creamy squash beans get their rich sauce from roasted honey nut squash and garlic, topped with smoky tempeh crunch, ready in about 1 hour.