Roasted Butternut Squash Crostini, with Whipped Feta, Smoked Bacon, & White Beans, Hot Honey & Pomegranate Seeds
By Nathan Vasil
“Its sweet-savoury balance is sure to spark conversation throughout the holidays.”
This amazing Christmas appetizer features award-winning Fardella’s feta, Noble Pork bacon, and Field Fresh butternut squash. This dish works beautifully in casual dining settings as a stand-alone appetizer, or scaled down for banquets and hors d’oeuvre parties. This recipe puts everyday kitchen staples to work — most restaurants already have bacon, feta, baguettes, and squash on hand this time of year. Serve it on small crostini or as a heartier plated appetizer. Looking for a vegetarian option? Simply omit the bacon. It also doubles as a delicious spread served with a fresh loaf of bread.
Morton Products
543835 – Baguette, sliced
513028 – Field Fresh butternut squash (1 medium, peeled & small diced)
150515 – Fardella’s Feta cheese (1/2 cup)
401078 – Noble Pork bacon (6oz)
251455 – Mike’s Hot Honey
566232 – White beans (1 cup cannellini or navy beans)
537993 – Pomegranate (1/4 cup)
607572 – Cream 35% (2 tbsp)
506345 – Thyme (1 tbsp)
251400 – Olive oil
505917 – Lemons (1 tbsp)
Recipe Instructions
2. Cook the Bacon – In a skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels, reserving a small amount of bacon fat.
3. Season the White Beans – Rinse white beans thoroughly; toss with lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and 1 tbsp olive oil.
4. Make the Whipped Feta – In a food processor, blend feta with heavy cream or Greek yogurt until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
5. Toast the Crostini – Brush bread slices with remaining olive oil and toast in the oven or on a grill until golden.
6. Make the Butternut Squash Mix – Combine roasted squash, crispy bacon, and seasoned white beans. Mash lightly with a fork so everything mixes evenly.
7. Assemble the Crostini – Spread whipped feta on each toasted slice. Top with the squash–bean–bacon mixture, drizzle with hot honey, and finish with pomegranate seeds.
Nathan Vasil
Territory Sales Manager
My experience over my 25 year career has been running restaurants. Starting as a young pizza chef, running golf courses and 5-diamond steakhouses in the Caribbean. For years I was a successful, driven Chef De Cuisine who worked in independent restaurants as well as large resorts and casinos. Having a deep knowledge of international cuisine, menu costing, menu performance, yielding, purchasing and many other tools to offer the independent restaurateur are some of the skills I use on a daily basis.
About Morton Food Service
Deeply rooted in the independent business community for over 100 years, Morton Food Service is the premier broadline distributor to independent restaurants serving Southwestern Ontario and the Niagara peninsula.
Contact Us
Toll Free: 1-800-265-5663
Phone: 1-519-737-6961
Email Us
