From butternut to spaghetti to acorn and more, these 10 savory and sweet winter squash recipes make a wonderful addition to any fall or winter meal.
Winter squash is one of those quintessential signs of fall and the coming winter months. Thicker skinned winter squash is at its best during this time of year, making it the perfect addition to the warming and comforting foods we naturally gravitate to in the cooler months. It also happens to be delicious and extremely versatile.
There’s pumpkin of course, but also butternut, spaghetti, acorn and a whole slew of other squash varieties you may never have tried before. Their naturally sweet and mild flavor makes them right at home in both savory and sweet dishes alike. Whether you’re looking for a soup, salad, side or sweet treat, you’ll find something for every occasion with these 10 winter squash recipes.
1. Winter Squash Soup (Vegan)
This brightly colored cold-weather winter squash soup flavored with sage, savory and thyme makes for a cozy and warming addition to any meal. It’s the kind of soup that’s satisfying without being heavy, and silky without the addition of dairy or cream.
2. Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear Salad (Vegan)
This roasted butternut squash salad is filled with fall favorites like pears and pecans and can mostly be prepared ahead of time.
3. Sweet Potato Butternut Squash Gratin
This thyme scented sweet potato and butternut squash gratin is a savory alternative to the usual sweet potato casserole during the holidays. No sugar, maple syrup or marshmallows in sight.
4. Maple Roasted Delicata Squash with Crispy Sage
Easily recognizable due to its striped skin and elongated shape, delicata has a creamy mild flavor and edible skin, which makes prep quick and easy. This simple roasted and glazed side features tender maple roasted delicata squash alongside sweet-tart apples and crispy sage.
5. Roasted Acorn Squash with Chermoula Sauce
Dark green and orange on the outside but pale yellow on the inside, with a less sweet and firmer flesh than most other squash, acorn squash really shines when roasted. Here thick wedges of roasted acorn squash are tossed with Chermoula sauce for a simple but flavorful side.
6. Steamed Pumpkin and Baby Bok Choy with Ginger Sesame Sauce
Red kuri also called Hokkaido pumpkin is creamy, sweet with a subtle chestnut-like flavor that’s unlike other squashes. Here red kuri squash and baby bok choy are lightly steamed and served with a ginger sesame sauce for and easy fall and winter side dish. If you’ve never tried steaming pumpkin before it’s really quite quick, easy and delicious.
7. Kelp Noodle Vegetable Japchae
Despite being a lesser-known variety of winter squash, kabocha’s sweet, nutty flavor and sweet potato-like texture make it a great addition to noodle dishes like this one. Kelp noodles are tossed in a hot pan along with roasted kabocha squash, mushrooms, spinach, scallions and then doused in a savory-sweet sauce with a hint of garlic.
8. Garlic Ginger Broccolini with Roasted Spaghetti Squash
This easy broccolini with spaghetti squash recipe is full of garlicky, gingery flavor for a warm and comforting meal with a bit of zing.
9. Gluten-Free Butternut Squash Pecan Muffins
Tender and subtly spiced butternut squash muffins are topped with a crisp cinnamon pecan streusel.
10. Maple Spice Squash Butter
This maple sweetened butternut squash spread is filled with warm seasonal spices like cinnamon, cloves and star anise. However you choose to use it, it may fast become your new fall favorite
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
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