Maple & Sea Salt Butternut Squash with Sage Cashew Cream
Roasted Maple Sea Salted Butternut Squash drizzled with Sage Cashew Cream and topped with sweet and tart dried cherries and nutty toasted almonds for crunch! It's an all vegan side dish that's perfect for Thanksgiving or the Holidays!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 2 medium butternut squashes
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt I use Morton's
- 3/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 4 tbsp olive oil
Sage Cashew Cream Sauce
- 1 cup raw cashews soaked
- 1 tsp kosher salt I use Morton's
- 1/2 tsp dried sage
- 1/2 tsp onion granules
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
Toppings
- 2 handfuls sliced almonds
- 2 handfuls dried tart cherries
- 1 handful finely chopped parsley
Instructions
Prep
- Soak the cashews overnight, or pour boiling water over them and let them soak for 30 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Next preheat the oven to 400 degrees.Peel the squash, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Then slice into 3/4 inch half moon shapped slices. Place in a mixing bowl and set aside.
Roast
- Add salt, pepper, nutmeg, olive oil and maple syrup to the bowl with the squash and toss to coat evenly. Transfer to a lined cookie sheet and bake for 45 minutes or until fork tender.
Make the Sauce
- In the meantime, drain the water from the cashews and place the nuts in a blender along with the remaining sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth.Tip: Blend for a little longer than you think you need to. This helps to emulsify the sauce and make it extra smooth and creamy!
Plate
- Finely chop the parsley. Then, when the squash is tender, transfer to a large plate or platter and drizzle generously with 3/4 of the sauce. Top with the chopped parsley, sliced almonds, and dried cherries. Serve with the remaining sauce on the side and enjoy!