With cooling temperatures and autumn just round the corner, our tastes for warm, hearty dishes made from the latest season’s flavors are one of the new preferences. Roasted Honey Nut Squash and Chickpeas with Hot Honey is perfect for capturing cozy comfort and added delish great twist that includes a little heat.
Whether it’s a quick weeknight meal or the centerpiece of a festive fall shindig, its bright colors and bold flavors are sure to make this dish pop. Let’s dive into what makes this recipe so special.
What is Honey Nut Squash?
Honey nut squash is smaller than butternut squash, which is sweeter and thick, contributing to a rich flavor when cooked. Its sweetness has a deep toning when roasted, yielding a caramelized texture that well complements savory and spicy elements. If you cannot get your hands on honey nut squash, do not sweat it, as its bigger cousin, the butternut squash, serves just as well.
Power of Chickpeas:
Peas add protein and texture to the dish. Roasted, they go delightfully crunchy on the outside and retain a tender inner softness. Combined with the squash, they add heartiness and turn this into a balanced, nutrient-packed meal.
Heat and sweetness of hot honey
Hot honey is, of course, the trendy-slash-trendy condiment for all the right reasons: the combination of sweet honey with spice kick is thrillingly addictive and can take even the dullest of dishes to a whole new flavorful level.
A drizzle of hot honey over the roasted squash and chickpeas in this dish creates a complex sweet-heat glaze that plays off the natural sweetness of the squash and the nuttiness of the chickpeas. You can also purchase hot honey at the store or create your own by mixing honey with red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is very easy to prepare since it can be prepared with less preparation work and with few ingredients. And apart from requiring a good roasting pan, the rest is handled by the oven.
- Flexibility: The one dish can be served as a side or a main course. With a simple green salad or crusty bread on hand, you’ve had yourself a meal.
- It is filled with flavor: Sweet, savory, and hot peppers make a thrilling element compared to plain roasted vegetables.
- Healthy and Filling While high in fiber, vitamins, and plant proteins, this is one meal that is as good for your body as it is full of flavor..
Recipe Overview
Here’s a quick overview of how to make Roasted Honey Nut Squash and Chickpeas with Hot Honey.
Ingredients:
- 1 honey nut squash (or butternut squash), peeled and diced
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- Olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper
- Honey and hot honey for the glaze
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Lemon wedges for serving
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat to 400°F.
- Toss diced squash in olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Roast together with the chickpeas till it becomes tender and caramelized; around 25-30 minutes.
- Toss with roasted vegetables and hot honey, spreading to coat.
- Serve it with fresh parsley and lemon wedges, for a pop of brightness.
- For the full recipe, check out our step-by-step process [here].
Success Tips:
Balance the Heat: Hot honey’s spiciness is also adjustable depending on your taste. If you are a new hot honey user, add only a little to begin with and gradually increase the spiciness.
Crispy Chickpeas: Do ensure you dry your chickpeas as dry as possible before roasting them.
Add Fresh Herbs: Parsley provides the herbaceous note, but you could also try the more bitter flavor of cilantro, or perhaps you’d prefer a pungent herb like thyme or rosemary.
Suitable for Meal Prep:
It’s also fantastic for meal prep. Roast the squash and chickpeas ahead of time and refrigerate them for up to 4 days, then reheat and drizzle with hot honey at serving time. It makes a really great, satisfying lunch that also keeps quite well in the fridge.
There are many scrumptious options with a sweet-spicy flavor profile if you are looking for other alternatives to hot honey. Here are some popular and easy-to-make alternatives:
- Chili Infused Maple Syrup
- Flavor: Honey sweet, but rich flavors deep and spicy.
- Prep Instructions: Heat the maple syrup with crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne, or fresh chilies. Allow this to simmer for a few minutes and then strain out the peppers.
- Use it over roasted vegetables, fried chicken, or even pizza.
Conclusion:
This makes hot honey a fantastic condiment that can give just about anything the bold, sweet-and-spicy kick. But for those who get a little too excited about these flavors or aren’t keen on indulging, there are also many other exciting alternatives that you can try out-most of which involve infusing maple syrup, honey, or some combination thereof with chili sauce, sriracha, gochujang, and other more complex blends.
Each brings their unique heat-to-sweet ratio. These alternatives are so simple to prepare, versatile, and allow you to take your roasted vegetables or grilled meat, or even your desserts, up a notch with a delicious kick. And the diversity in experimenting with these substitutes guarantees that you never get out of ways of tasting that perfect sweet-and-spicy combination!