Butternut Squash Tart

This is a sweet tart made with a filling of butternut squash spiced with garam masala.

Makes 8 portions, although as this sweet butternut squash tart is served as an extra in monthly meal plan two when it is needed, the size of portion is not vital. You could use it as a pudding, or perhaps a children’s tea.

What do I need to make this butternut squash tart

▢ 500 g butternut squash
▢ 50 ml veg oil
▢ 230 g self raising flour
▢ 4 slices home made white bread crumbed
▢ 150 g sugar
▢ 2 tsps garam masala

How do I make a butternut squash tart

▢ Cook the squash in a pan with water, garam masala and 130g sugar, (cover with a lid so any bits poking above get steamed).
▢ Remove lid when it’s all mulched together. Keep adding water/reducing until you have a thickish wallpaper paste consistency.
▢ Crumble in the breadcrumbs, don’t add all of it if it’s getting too stiff: the consistency of a buttery mashed swede would be about right here.
▢ Squidge the flour, 30g sugar, oil and approx 4 tbspns water until you have a soft stretchy dough. Press this out into the base and sides of an 8 inch pie dish or flan case.
▢ Bake at gas mark 5 / 190°C / 170(fan) °C/ 374°F for approximately 5-8 mins until just beginning to brown, then remove, fill with the squash mixture and bake for a further 10 mins until edges of pastry are dark golden. Makes 8 portions.

What changes can I make if I’m not following the monthly meal plan

• swap the oil for butter or margarine in the pastry
• omit the garam masala, or swap for ground ginger or mixed spice
• reduce the sugar by as much as 50%
• use another vegetable or fruit in place of the butternut squash
  • try pumpkin
  • sweet potato
  • or mashed carrot
• omit the sugar and add garlic, ginger and chilli

Other ‘extra’ meal plan recipes