Spiced Butter (Air Fryer) Hasselback Squash

Cooking methods have evolved over the years. Traditional methods of steaming, boiling and roasting will remain but air frying is a new enough method and a great addition. I decided to hop on the air frying wagon a couple of months ago and have not regretted it one bit.

Air fryers are very economical to run and so efficient! And whats more they are great for cooking vegetables in a speedy tasty manor.

Butternut squash is a great winter veg, I spied the hasselback version and was dying to try it out. Basted in a spiced butter it is a delicious side dish. If you don’t own an air fryer you can make the same dish in a casserole or roasting dish in the oven, it will take about an hour at 180C.

Lou 🙂

Ingredients

Method:

  1. Cut the top off the butternut squash.
  2. Carefully cut the butternut squash in half and scoop out the seeds.
  3. You’ll need 2 chop sticks to make incisions in the squash. Take one half of the squash and place a chop stick on either side. Hold the sticks in place along with the squash with one hand and chop multiple thin slices with a sharp knife down as far as the sticks with the other hand. they should be about 4mm thick. Repeat with the other half of the squash.
  4. Melt the butter in a pot or microwave and add in the paprika, cumin, chilli, salt and pepper, give it a stir.
  5. Remove the grill place and pour the spiced butter into the air fryer basket
  6. Place both of the pieces of squash in the basket, flat side down in the spiced butter.
  7. Air fry for 25 minutes, basting with the butter half way through.
  8. Check the squash is fully cooked by piercing with the tip of a sharp knife.
  9. When its fully cooked remove carefully from the basket, baste again with the spiced butter and serve.

2 Replies to “Spiced Butter (Air Fryer) Hasselback Squash”

  1. This sounds a great idea. My air fryer looks a bit different to most I have seen and has a paddle in the bottom which I would remove for this as I do for the second stage of tortilla making and the recipe book says to do cakes or pizza – neither of which I have tried making in it yet. I must start using my air fryer more. Last week I made Liz’s Tofu Butter Curry (a favourite of ours) and my husband suggested the tofu might work in the air fryer, which would save me standing over the frying pan turning all the pieces. So I tried reheating the second half in it, using the paddle, and it worked well. Next time I will try using it for them from the start. That will make it an even simpler meal to cook.
    I am guessing your lovely pumpkins are too soft for hasselback but you have given me the idea of trying roasting them in large pieces or even halves, maybe stuffed halves, in my air fryer.

  2. Hi Jeanette, the air fryer is great for quick cooking. I am just getting used to mine and am enjoying cooking all sorts of veg in it. I tried sprouts the other day but they cooked to quickly so i feel reducing the temperature is important to prevent too much charring!
    do try the pumpkins, the skin can be a bit tough, but I don’t mind that, my husband wasn’t so keen.
    Enjoy the holidays
    Lou

Comments are closed.