Burnt Butternut Mash

Author: Rudi Liebenberg
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings
Category: roasting
Diet: Vegan

Description

Take the butternut as far as possible in term of caramelising – that’s where the amazing flavour comes from. So good, it’s almost like dessert!

Ingredients

1 kg butternut, peeled and cubed
4 tsp (20 ml) maple
4 tsp (20 ml) avocado oil
cinnamon (optional)
salt and pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180 ºC.

Toss the butternut in maple syrup, avocado oil, cinnamon and season.

Place the butternut in roasting tray season and roast for 30-40 minutes. The idea is for the butternut to really heavily caramelise and darken to produce an intense flavour. Remove and then mash or puree with a stick blender until smooth. Check and adjust seasoning.

Sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds and drizzle with avocado oil and serve.

Rudi Liebenberg

Rudi Liebenberg, executive chef at The Mount Nelson Hotel, decided that he wanted to be a chef because he didn't want to talk to people and 'food doesn't talk back'. In essence, his food speaks so loudly that he need never say another word. His culinary journey covers stints at the Michelangelo, the Sheraton and the Saxon but he has now settled happily in Cape Town with his family and has no plans to return to Johannesburg. His style of cooking is modern, but based on a love of 'real' food - home made pasta, down to earth home cooking with a 'cheffy' twist - fresh, delicious and with a nod to what is seasonal.