Grilled Butternut Squash and Feta Sandwich

Caramelized butternut squash comes together with tangy feta grilled until golden in the grilled butternut squash and feta sandwich. A perfect combination of sweet and salty.

Cooking with the seasons is what the Mediterranean diet is all about and butternut squash at this time of the year is no exception. We’ve slow roasted it, we’ve made butternut squash soup with it and now we’re going to make a wonderful and simple grilled sandwich.
It’s a simple as grating a bit of leftover butternut squash, adding it to a sandwich along with feta, and grilling it in a pan with a touch of olive oil. This sandwich is great on its own, but pairs great with a warm warm cup of soup or a warm herbal tea.

A Healthy Sandwich: The dietitian’s take

This grilled butternut squash and feta sandwich is made on whole wheat bread and is both satisfying and nutritious. It combines a mix of fiber, protein, and vitamins. The whole wheat bread is rich in fiber, keeping you keeping your blood sugar balanced, the butternut squash has fairly low calories and rich in beta carotene and vitamin C and antioxidants, and the cheese provides some protein, some calcium and a lot of flavor. The olive oil brings all the flavors together and is a great source of the good fats and antioxidants. Although you typically will not find this sandwich in the traditional Mediterranean diet, it aligns perfectly with the principles of the Mediterranean diet; seasonal vegetables, olive oil, and a bit of cheese for the protein.

Ingredients for Grilled Butternut Squash and Feta Sandwich

You only need 4 ingredients:
Butternut squash in one piece: I usually just set some aside after using the squash for a larger recipe.
Extra-virgin olive oil: You need the oil for a nice browning.
Whole-grain bread: You can use any type of bread you want, however apart from the fiber, I find that whole grain bread stands up to the flavors and textures.
Feta: Tangy feta balances out the squash well. If you can’t find feta, goat cheese can also work.

How to make Grilled Butternut Squash and Feta Sandwich

• Take the peeled butternut squash and gfrate it using the medium holes of the grater, as if making hashbrowns.
• In a medium pan large enough to spead the squash in one layer, heat 1 ½ tablespoon of olive oil, once it starts to shimmer add the grated butternut squash spread it out so it is in one thin layer like you would do with hashbrowns and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Let it brown then mix it a bit so all parts have browned for about 2 more minutes.
• Remove from the pan and place in a plate.

• Brush the bread with olive oil on both sides.
  Divide the feta into half and smash in a bowl. Spread half of the feta and one slice of bread and the other half on the other slice of bread. Layer the cooked butternut squash on one slice and cover with the other slice .
• Grill the sandwich in the pan that you used to cook the butternut squash. Grill about 2-3 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the bread.
• Removed from the pan, slice in half and serve warm.

What to serve with this grilled butternut squash and feta sandwich

This sandwich pairs nicely with a a warm soup, but I would also pair it with a leafy salad or a salad with beans. Or accompany it with a simple dip such as this Black Olive Tapenade or Beet and Walnut Hummus

You may also like these Mediterranean Sandwiches

• Grilled Feta and Spinach Sandwich
• Mediterranean Grilled Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich
• Greek Style Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Feta and Tahini

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