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Ingredients
- This popular appetizer from the Middle East is a sort of sweet-tasting hummus, in which winter squash substitutes for chickpeas.
- 2 1/2 pounds winter squash, like butternut
- 1/3 cup sesame tahini, stirred if the oil has separated out
- 2 large garlic cloves, halved, with green shoots removed
- Salt to taste
- 2 to 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground
- Pomegranate seeds and extra virgin olive oil for garnish
Preparation
Step 1
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with foil and brush lightly with olive oil. If using butternut squash, cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy membranes, and lay cut-side down on the foil-covered baking sheet. If using a thick slice of squash, scrape off any membranes. Bake 45 minutes to one hour, or until very soft. A knife should cut through it without resistance, and the skin should be wrinkled. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then peel and transfer to a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the tahini, and puree until smooth and creamy.
2. Combine the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a mortar and pestle, and mash to a paste. Add to the food processor along with the lemon juice and cumin, and blend together. Add salt to taste.
3. Mound the puree in a wide bowl or on a plate. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top, and garnish with pomegranate seeds. Serve with warm pita bread.
Advance preparation: You can make this a day ahead, but it will stiffen up, so you may want to process again and thin out with a little more tahini or olive oil before serving.