Butternut Squash Crostini

Here’s an inspired appetizer or light meal that tastes great warm or room temperature- Butternut Squash Crostini tastes decadent and has a tumble of sweet, crispy shallots and Parmesan cheese on top.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients You’ll Need
• Step-By-Step Instructions
• Tips For Prepping Squash
• Tips For This Recipe
• Serving Ideas
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Recipes To Try:
• Butternut Squash Crostini
• Subscribe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Once upon a time, I made way too much roasted squash, and had a pretty good sized bowl of leftovers. Yes, I could have put them in a salad with some greens and a little vinaigrette, but since I graduated from the school of Everything Is Better On Toasted Bread, I came up with this recipe for Butternut Squash Crostini, and trust me, it’s a keeper.

Here’s why you should try this delicious thing:

• Lunch, dinner, snacks. Yep, it’s all that. It’s a great option for any of those occasions, and also a perfect appetizer with smaller slices of baguette for a crowd.
• The squash is warmed, the shallots are crispy, the Parmesan is shaved. A delicious twist on bruschetta!
• Did I mention the bread is warm and toasty?
• The sage leaves are quick-fried and optional, but man,…..so good!
• Next time you bake some squash, make extra and try this amazing toast
• Toast is good for so many occasions – when the weather’s warm, try this incredible Fruit Toast, and when you’ve got friends coming, make these very good Goat Cheese Toasts with Cranberry. There’s a wonderful toast with fresh figs here too. Definitely bookmark and give these a try 🙂

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the full recipe, ingredients, and instructions, please scroll to the recipe card below.

• Cooked squash: I tested this recipe with Butternut and Acorn squash, and both were outstanding. I think almost any variety would work, really.
• Bread: Get a nice round of sourdough or other plain artisan type of bread. Avoid those with extra ingredients like garlic or olives.
• Thick, one inch slices is what we’re after, drizzled with olive oil and toasted under the broiler for a couple minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
• Olive Oil: Good quality EVOO adds a lot of flavor you won’t get anywhere else
• Parmesan Cheese: Just the perfect flavor for this squash toast. Perfect.
• Shallots: Sweet and savory, and pan fried just until the edges are crispy.
• Fresh Sage: Yes, get the fresh kind at the grocery store. If you’ve never tasted sage that’s flash fried, well, we really need to change that 🙂
• Seasonings: Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper is all you need to elevate the flavors of this toast

Step-By-Step Instructions

For the full recipe, please scroll down to the recipe card below.

To prepare the cooked shallots, here’s all you do:

1. Add the sliced shallots and 2 tablespoons of butter into a large non-stick skillet, single layer with salt and freshly ground pepper
2. Cook on medium high heat until they start to sweat, about 5 minutes.
3. Add a tiny bit of sugar to the shallots, then lower the heat a bit and continue cooking for about 20 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.
4. Remove from the pan and set aside until you’re ready to assemble the toasts

Tips For Prepping Squash

For the squash part of this recipe, you’re options are: t

1. Roast Your Own: Here’s a good recipe for this. Leave the maple syrup out (unless you want your toasts a little bit sweeter). You can bake either acorn or butternut squash on a sheet pan
2. Buy It Frozen: Squash usually comes pureed or cubed in the freezer section. Go with cubed, defrost, then smash with the back of a fork in a large bowl before proceeding with the recipe.

Tips For This Recipe

• When cooking the shallots, start on medium high heat, then go for a lower setting. You have to gently coax onions of any kind to caramelize them. Be sure to slice them thin, and adding a little bit of sugar that the recipe calls for helps this process along.
• This recipe calls for 2 medium shallots. Sometimes there’s only small shallots at the grocery store, so be sure to grab several!
• While we’re talking about it, don’t leave the cooking shallots unattended, and be sure to stir them occasionally. Overcooking or burning can happen before you know it!
• Use a plain artisan round loaf for this recipe, not sandwich bread. You’ll need the sturdiness of a loaf that you’ll cut about an inch thick to stand up to these ingredients and flavors.
• Use any variety of cooked squash you’d like, but keep it chunky, not pureed.
• This recipe can be halved or doubled, or made smaller for amazing appetizers!
• When you’re ready to assemble, just toast the bread, scoop on the squash mixture, remove the onions from the skillet with a slotted spoon and add a few on top, then shave some Parmesan cheese and a quick fried sage leaf or two, drizzle more olive oil and enjoy!

Serving Ideas

• I love toast of any kind with soup. Try this Chicken Sausage Tortellini Soup, this easy & creamy non-dairy Pumpkin Soup, a chunky, delicious Corn Chowder, or this warm and tasty Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup Recipe that’s made in a slow cooker. Serve these Goat Cheese Toasts with Cranberry and maybe a tray of these easy Crunchy Crab Sushi Rolls too.
• A big, juicy piece of Butternut Squash Bruschetta sounds perfect with a mug of Non Dairy Hot Chocolate for dessert. (Followed by a nice, fluffy bed.)
• You can go the toast and salad route, too. Start with a roasted pear salad, a refreshing celery, hazelnut and Parmesan salad, this simple and tasty Italian Green Bean salad, or just lots of greens and vinaigrette like in this Superfoods Salad.
• Cookies make an easy dessert, and some soft, delicious Lemon Shortbread would be outstanding, or some Macadamia Shortbread Cookies (that have a drizzle of white chocolate) or live a little and make some of the best Rice Krispy treats you’ve ever had (according to my neighbor), or go all-out cozy and make these Best Cider Apples, or these outstanding Mini Caramel Apple Pies.
• Then again,is always a crowd-pleaser 🙂

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes To Try:

• Pumpkin Spice Milkshake: Just as delicious as it sounds!
• Overnight Brioche French Toast Casserole Recipe: A wonderful weekend breakfast.
• Parmesan Potatoes with Roasted Broccolini: A very tasty side dish recipe.
• Pasta and Broccoli Recipe Italian: An easy, fresh pasta recipe.
• Deviled Eggs Candied Bacon: Just an outstanding deviled egg!
• Cornmeal Pancakes with Strawberry Jam: These pancakes are outstanding!
• Skillet Taco Bake: Great with chips as an appetizer, or a full meal!
• Deviled Eggs Candied Bacon: Just an outstanding version of deviled eggs!
• Fresh Figs, Three Ways: Lots of great figgy ideas here!
• Fig Banana Bread: Moist and full of great flavor!
• Party Olives: Guests get obsessed with these…double the recipe!
• Vegetables to Serve with Turkey: A delicious list of favorite side dish recipes.

If you’ve tried Butternut Squash Crostini, or any other recipe on Studio Delicious, please rate the recipe 5 stars and & tag me or leave me a comment below!

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