Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Squachos with Cranberry Salsa

Ingredients

• For the Butternut Squacho Chips
• 1 2- to 3-pound butternut squash with a long neck, peeled
• EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil or coconut oil cooking spray
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• For the Caramelized Onions
• 2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 large yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• For the Cranberry Salsa
• 1 12-ounce bag cranberries
• 1 jalapeño, ribs and seeds removed
• 1 small red onion, peeled
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
• Juice and zest of 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons honey
• For topping: 8 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped

Directions

1. 1Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. 2Cut the neck of the butternut squash from the base; reserve the base for roasting or soup. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut the neck of the butternut squash into slices an 1/8-inch. Arrange them onto 2 to 3 parchment-lined baking sheets, making sure they don’t overlap. Drizzle with oil or spray with cooking spray and season with salt, and pepper. Bake for 10-12 minutes, flip and bake another 6-8 minutes until brown and crispy on edges.
3. 3For the onions, preheat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, thyme, salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Lower the heat to medium and cook until onions begin to turn caramel in color, about 20-25 minutes.
4. 4Add cranberries, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, lime zest and juice, honey, salt and pepper to a food processor bowl and pulse to desired consistency. (Salsa can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container.)
5. 5Preheat broiler.
6. 6Arrange butternut chips on a clean baking sheet then top with caramelized onions and blue cheese crumbles. Place under the broiler until blue cheese has melted. Top with cranberry salsa and pecans, and serve from baking sheet.