This was my first time roasting (and eating) honeynut squash. I must say, it’s divine. If you’re not familiar with honeynut squash, they look like baby butternut squash but much smaller. They are so tiny and so adorable you’ll want to buy a few of them. I opted for two at my farmer’s market here in Tribeca because I couldn’t resist. Because of their petite size, they’re much easier to prepare versus larger varieties of squash. That said, if you can’t find honeynut squash in your food store, you can easily use any other variety of winter squash for this recipe such as butternut squash or acorn squash, however, you’ll most likely only need one of the larger varieties since they’re double the size of honeynut.
This recipe is unique in that it doubles as a main dish and also a dessert. There’s no added sugar of any kind here however the squash is so incredibly sweet that this recipe tastes as though there is honey or some type of sugar swirled inside. I’m making this recipe at my family’s home next week for Thanksgiving as a main dish but you can serve it however you’d like.
I’m using hazelnut flour in this recipe but don’t be intimidated by it because you can surely use almond flour, if it’s more convenient. I happen to love the taste of hazelnut flour so I prefer it over almond flour any day. This is the 10-inch tart baking dish I’m using, as well, in case you’re curious as to the best way to present this tart on your holiday table.
Lastly, I’m using fresh sage leaves and fresh thyme for the garnish to add a pop of beautiful color. You can also use fresh rosemary or any other hearty winter herb. Enjoy.
This tart is a spin on the classic pumpkin pie without any added sugar, gluten or dairy. It's one of the easiest recipes you'll ever make with less than five ingredients. The result is a naturally sweet and delicious tart that can be served as a main meal or as a dessert.
Ingredients
Tart Crust
- 2 3/4 cups hazelnut (or almond) flour
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large egg well beaten
- pinch cumin
Squash Filling
- 2 honeynut squash
- sea salt to taste
- fresh sage or thyme for garnish
Instructions
Tart Crust
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 10 inch tart baking dish (see above for the one I use for my tarts) with olive oil. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.
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In a large bowl, combine the flour with the sea salt. Mix well, then add the oil and mix well until clumps form. Add in the beaten egg and continue to mix well until it resembles a dough consistency. Transfer the dough to the prepared pie dish. Press the dough into the base of the pie dish and up the sides using your fingers until it is evenly distributed. Sprinkle ground cumin on top.
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Use a fork to poke holes in the dough on the base and up the sides to allow for air flow. Transfer to the oven on the rimmed baking sheet for 20 minutes or until golden brown. You will see some of the olive oil bubbling up but don't worry because this crust will be baked once again with the filling inside (I tried baking the crust with less oil and the sides crumbled so the amount of oil called for in this recipe is needed).
Squash Filling
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While the crust is baking, prepare the squash. Slice each squash in half lengthwise with a sharp knife and remove any seeds and discard. Place the four halves on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper face up and drizzle the squash and cavity with olive oil, sprinkle with salt.
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When the crust is finished remove it from the oven and let it sit on the counter to completely cool and harden. Raise the temperature of the oven to 425 degrees F and roast the squash until very tender, about 25-30 minutes. It is important that the squash is very tender and not hard because this is the tart "filling".
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Remove the squash from the oven and set aside to cool for 5 minutes. Scoop out the flesh using a large spoon and transfer to a small food processor. Purée until smooth and season to taste with salt, if needed. Spoon the squash puree into the pie crust and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for another 25 minutes at 400 F or until the crust is a deep golden brown and the squash is set.
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Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving with fresh sage and/or fresh thyme. Season to taste with salt and serve.
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Store leftover tart slices stacked on top of each other in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month in a sealed glass container.
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