Air Fry Butternut Squash With Feta Cheese
This air fried butternut squash should be served on your roast menu because it doesn’t take ages to cook. And it’s so appetizingly flavourful that you can even serve it as a snack.
Why You’ll Like This Side Dish
Because this air fry butternut squash is delightful to enjoy as a side dish.
The subtle sweetness of the squash marries well with the spices and creamy feta cheese.
One can easily get carried away having this roasted butternut squash.
And the best part is, you can make it in less than half an hour using an air fryer.
So no more wasting time and energy roasting the squash in an oven.
Ingredients You Need
I use a few spices to make this dish. Because they enhance the squash flavor delicately. It’s not a fiery-kicking spice kind of way. But it’s more like giving a delectable aroma.
So to achieve this, we need butternut squash, olive oil, garlic powder, harissa powder, salt, pepper, feta cheese, and walnuts.
Should you not be able to get harissa powder, but can obtain harissa paste, please use the paste. Both are good.
As for the nuts, you can omit them if you don’t want them. Or, you can change the walnuts to any other type of nuts you like. I find that pecan nuts, Brazil nuts, or cashew nuts are good alternatives. So feel free to choose according to your preference.
How To Air Fry Butternut Squash
You prepare the butternut squash the same way you roast it in the oven.
Peel, scoop, and cut in chunks your butternut squash. Then add the harissa powder and garlic powder. Generously season it with salt and pepper, then drizzle with olive oil.
Toss them well until all pieces are coated with spices and oil.
Preheat your air fryer to 190°C/ 375°F
Place the squash chunks in your air fryer basket and cook them at 190°C/ 375°F for 20 minutes. Check occasionally to flip the squash. I did it twice during this cooking time.
In the meantime, pan-roast the walnuts until crispy. Roughly chop them and set them aside.
When your butternut squash is fully cooked, take it out of the fryer and put it on a serving plate. Scatter the chopped walnuts and feta cheese crumbles all over the squash.
Top tip to air fry delicious butternut squash
- Though it may be a little tricky, try your best to cut the squash into the same size. The bigger the cut is, the longer it takes to cook it. I always aim to cut it into a 1-inch size.
- Do not skip flipping and turning the squash when it’s cooking in the fryer. This is to ensure all pieces are cooked evenly.
Ways to enjoy this butternut squash
Though I often make it as a side dish, I must admit that I enjoy this butternut squash roasted in an air fryer as my main menu. I can eat it as it is without any additions.
But if you feel like having some protein on the side, try these tasty air fryer chicken tenders by Katy Kicker, or air fryer BBQ chicken breast by Rachna Cooks.
Sometimes, I wrap it in tortilla bread and enjoy it as a burrito.
And if you want more ideas for your burrito, you can check out this air fryer burrito.
Typical menu to go with air-fried butternut squash
Well, if you’re serving this fried butternut squash as a part of your roast menu, I’d say it will be good to serve with slow roast lamb shoulder, microwave sweet potato gratin, roast potatoes in an air fryer, and roasted Brussels sprouts with honey.
Thank you for checking this recipe out. If you did try it, let me know how you like it in the comments below. I’ll appreciate it.
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Take care and all the best.
Air Fry Butternut Squash With Feta Cheese
Equipment
- Chopping board
- Kitchen knife
- Mixing bowls.
- Air fryer
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 2 pounds butternut squash about medium sized.
- 1 teaspoon harissa powder.
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil.
- Salt and pepper to season.
- 0.88 ounce feta cheese.
- A handful of walnuts optional.
Instructions
- Peel, scoop the seed and cut the butternut squash into 1-inch chunks.
- Place the squash chunks in a mixing bowl. Add harissa powder, garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Stir well until all pieces are coated with spices.
- Preheat your air fryer to 190°C/ 375°F.
- Drizzle the oil over butternut squash, and stir well again.
- Arrange the squash pieces in the air fryer basket.
- And cook the squash for about 20 minutes. Don’t forget to check and flip the butternut every now and again. I do it about three times to ensure all pieces are cooked evenly.
- While the butternut squash is cooking, roast the walnuts on a frying pan until crispy. Chop to your desired size.
- When the squash is cooked, place it on a serving dish. Then crumble the feta cheese over it and scatter chopped walnuts on it.
Notes
- The easy way to prepare the butternut squash is by cutting it in quarters. First, cut it in halves, and then half each piece. This way, it will be easier to deseed and peel it.
- Using nuts is optional. If you want, you can choose different nuts. Though I personally think walnuts, pecan nuts or cashew nuts are the best options for butternut squash, feel free to use any nuts you like.
- Pan roasting the nuts a little while will make a massive difference in the taste and crispiness of nuts. So yeah, don’t skip it.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutritional info in this recipe is only estimate using online calculator. You should refer to it as a guide only. Please verify with your own data if you seek an accurate info.
