Bengali Squash With Chickpeas

Butternut squash is one of my favorite varieties of pumpkin, as it is smoother and creamier than the large orange pumpkins we see at Halloween. It is a wonderful match for the earthiness of the chickpeas, especially when paired with these sweet and earthy spices. These ingredients and flavors have a definitive West Bengali flair. This is a fantastic vegetarian autumnal main course (add more beans or some cubes of paneer) or a great side dish to meat or chicken dishes. You can vary the beans (cannellini or butterbeans would also be delicious) or make it with sweet potatoes. Adapted from "Anjum's New Indian" by Anjum Anand.