Name: Vegan butternut squash pie
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 onions finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic crushed; thumb-sized piece ginger peeled and grated; 2 tsp cumin seeds; 2 tsp ground coriander; 2 x 400g tins chickpeas drained and rinsed; 1 butternut squash deseeded and cut into 2cm cubes (700g prepared weight); 2 tbsp harissa; 400ml vegetable stock; 150g spinach; steamed greens or salad to serve; 500g plain flour plus extra for dusting; ½ tsp ground turmeric; 250g vegan baking block cubed; 2 tbsp plant milk

Slice of vegan butternut squash pie on a plate with salad greens

2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 onions
finely chopped
2 cloves garlic
crushed
thumb-sized piece ginger
peeled and grated
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp ground coriander
2 x 400g tins chickpeas
drained and rinsed
1 butternut squash
deseeded and cut into 2cm cubes (700g prepared weight)
2 tbsp harissa
400ml vegetable stock
150g spinach
steamed greens or salad
to serve

PASTRY

500g plain flour
plus extra for dusting
½ tsp ground turmeric
250g vegan baking block
cubed
2 tbsp plant milk

Method

step 1
For the pastry, whizz together the flour, turmeric, plant block and a pinch of fine sea salt in a food processor until the mixture looks like damp breadcrumbs. Add 3-4 tbsp of ice-cold water and pulse again until it comes together into a ball. Cover and chill.
step 2
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over a medium heat and fry the onions for 10 minutes until soft. Stir in the garlic and ginger, and fry for another 2 minutes. Add the spices and toast for a few seconds until fragrant, then stir in the chickpeas, squash, harissa and stock. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the squash is tender. Stir in the spinach, season well and cook for 5 minutes until the spinach has wilted and the sauce has thickened. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
step 3
Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Cut off a third of the pastry and set aside. Roll out the remaining pastry on a lightly floured worksurface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use it to line a 23cm springform cake tin, leaving the excess overhanging the rim. Spoon in the filling. Roll out the remaining pastry into a 23cm circle, then use a little of the plant milk to attach it to the pastry base. Crimp the edges to seal and trim any excess using a serrated knife. Brush with the remaining milk and cut a steam hole in the top. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the pastry is golden and crisp, and the filling is piping hot throughout. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove to a serving plate and cut into wedges.