Colorful, vibrant and delicious, this nutritious Butternut Squash Flatbread with ricotta and herbs is a feast for the senses! It's elegant enough to serve as an appetizer if you're entertaining. It also make a light and easy vegetarian weeknight dinner. Make this tasty dish in about 35 minutes!
You’ve probably heard the old adage “you eat with your eyes first.” How a food looks visually is one of the first sensory impressions we get before we dive in. So it makes sense that if a dish looks visually appealing, it will be more appetizing to us.
People often ask me how they can get their families to eat healthier foods. Ultimately, how a dish tastes is the most important thing. So my tips usually revolve around how to maximize flavor without maximizing the calories and fat.
But almost equally as important is how a dish looks. Perhaps it comes from all of my years doing food styling for this website and my cookbooks. But the truth is that I love to make my food look pretty. So here’s another tip- get creative and dress it up!
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Something as simple as a garnish of colorful herbs, chopped nuts or a sprinkle of freshly grated cheese can dress up a healthy dish and make your family more likely to eat it.
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My Butternut Squash Flatbread is a light, vegetarian dish that’s packed with beautiful colors. And the best part is that it's made with just a handful of simple and nutritious whole foods. This flatbread is equally suitable as an appetizer for an elegant dinner party or a light weeknight dinner.
This dish is easy to make, delicious, and good for you too. The combination of the warm flatbread with sweet butternut squash, creamy ricotta cheese, fresh herbs, and tender baby greens is a revelation!
Butternut squash is one of my favorite vegetables to cook with. I use it in everything from soup to pasta, chili, and salad. Not only is it sweet and delicious, it's packed with nutrients!
Doctor's Tips
Butternut squash's rich orange color means that it is packed with beta carotene, which gets converted to Vitamin A in the body. One cup of cubed squash has 457% of the recommended daily allowance!
Vitamin A is important for vision, immune health, growth and reproduction. Read my post about the nutritional benefits of butternut squash.
Ingredients
- Butternut squash- I buy a whole butternut squash for this recipe so that I can slice it into thin rounds with a mandoline slicer; you can buy pre-diced squash to save time and top the flatbread with diced squash rather than slices
- Olive oil
- Ricotta cheese- adds a rich creamy layer that perfectly complements the sweet butternut squash
- Thyme- I like to use fresh thyme but you can substitute dried
- Naan flatbreads- I used Stonefire whole wheat naan; you can substitute whole wheat pizza dough
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese- I like to use freshly grate cheese
- Sweet pea greens- can substitute any delicate greens like baby spinach or watercress
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Butternut Squash Flatbread
- Step 1- Slice the long narrow neck of the butternut squash into thin slices with a mandoline slicer. Toss the slices with olive oil and bake them in the oven on a sheet pan for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix the ricotta cheese with thyme, salt, and pepper. Spread the mixture on the flatbreads and arrange the squash slices on top. Top with parmesan cheese
- Step 2- Bake the flatbread in the oven for 8-10 minutes until the naan is warm and the cheese melts.
- Meanwhile, toss the greens with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Top the flatbreads with the greens. Then, slice and serve!
Chef's Tips
- Use a mandoline slicer to cut the butternut squash into thin, even slices. If you don't have one, you can use a knife.
- You can use pre-cut butternut squash from the store and top the flatbread with the diced squash instead of slices; keep in mind that the cook time will be longer.
More Butternut Squash Recipes
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Recipe
Butternut Squash Flatbread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 small butternut squash
- 3 teaspoons olive oil, divided use
- Salt and pepper
- ⅔ cup part skim ricotta cheese
- 1 teaspoon chopped, fresh thyme plus extra for garnish
- 2 whole wheat naan flatbreads (can substitute pizza dough)
- ½ ounce freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 2 cups sweet pea greens or other delicate greens like baby spinach or watercress
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Cut the neck (long part) of the butternut squash off from the body (rounded part). Peel the neck with a vegetable peeler and cut it into thin slices (about ¼-inch thick) using a mandoline slicer. You should have about 8 ounces of squash. Reserve the remaining squash for another use.
- Toss the squash slices with 2 teaspoons olive oil and season them with a pinch of salt and pepper. Arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Mix the ricotta cheese, thyme and a pinch of salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Spread the ricotta mixture on the flatbreads leaving a ½-inch border along the edges. Arrange the squash slices on top of the ricotta. Sprinkle the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese on top along with a few extra thyme leaves.
- Place the flatbreads on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until the bread is toasted and cheese is melted. Remove from oven.
- Toss the sweet pea greens with a teaspoon of olive oil and the lemon juice. Season them with a pinch of salt and pepper. Arrange the greens on top of the flatbreads. Cut into pieces and serve.
Notes
- Use a mandoline slicer to cut the butternut squash into thin, even slices. If you don't have one, you can use a knife.
- You can use pre-cut butternut squash from the store and top the flatbread with the diced squash instead of slices; keep in mind that the cook time will be longer.
Ashley C. says
Organicgirl sweet pea greens are my favorite salad blend! I love that you topped these butternut squash flatbreads with the greens. I need to make this for lunch soon!
sonaliruder says
Aren't they so good?! Thanks so much Ashley, I hope you love it!
Farrah says
I have yet to venture into making flatbread, but if any recipe's going to convince me to do it, it's this one! I love butternut squash, and these look amazing! <3
sonaliruder says
Awww, thanks Farrah! Flatbreads are easy to make, especially if you buy readymade bread instead of making your own dough. Then you can just load it up with your favorite toppings 🙂
Marissa says
This is gorgeous, Sonali! I absolutely love pea greens - they taste like the peas, but more delicate. I love this flavor combination...
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Marissa! I love their delicate, mildly sweet flavor. They're a great addition to many dishes!
Jessica Levinson says
I love everything about this flatbread, Sonali! I think you know I love ricotta, and roasted butternut squash, thyme, and pea greens that scream spring is near - what more can one ask for?! Can't wait to try it!
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Jessica! Sweet pea greens are one of my favorite first signs of spring at the market 🙂
Jessie @ The Happiness in Health says
This flatbread looks delicious and nutritious, and I totally agree -- we eat with our eyes first! I would gobble this up 🙂
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much, Jessie!
Alisa says
Oh my goodness, those greens are so cute - I'm dying to get some pea shoots now! Brilliant flavor pairing and such a wonderful use of squash.
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much, Alisa! Those pea shoots are adorable and tasty too 🙂
Elizabeth Shaw says
I'm a sucker for a great flatbread- these look delish! I don't have ricotta but do have goat cheese- I will be trying this stat!
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Elizabeth! I'm a sucker for flatbread too. Goat cheese sounds like a great substitution- perfect with the sweet squash.
Heather Gannoe says
...aaaaand now I know what I'm having for dinner tonight. Thank you for this recipe! It looks amazing1
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Heather! I hope you try it out 🙂
Rebecca Pytell says
What a lovely flatbread dear! Gorgeous!
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Rebecca!
Deanna - Teaspoon of Spice says
Oh my goodness does this look good and exactly something I'd order off of a menu at a cool lunch spot. Pinning!
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much, Deanna!
Corina says
It looks so good! I'm going to try slicing my butternut squash this thinly next time.
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Corina! It cooks a lot faster when you slice it thinly.
anne@cravingSomethingHealthy.com says
This is almost too pretty to eat! You can't help but feel good when you eat such beautiful, simple and fresh food! Pinned 🙂
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Anne! We had no problem diving right in! 🙂
Kristy Sayer @ Southern In Law says
This looks amaaazing! I love me some butternut squash! <3
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Kristy! I love it too!