“Winter squash” is a little bit of a misnomer. In reality, these veggies actually come into season on the finish of summer season and early fall. Because the temps begin to drop, I discover myself searching for one of the best winter squash recipes and methods to make use of the entire lovely picks piling up at grocery shops, markets, and farm stands. Fortunate for all of us, too, their buttery flavors are the proper addition to soups, salads, and pastas, and so they even arise because the hero in lots of the meatless principal dishes I’ll be consuming all all through the season.
Maybe you’re already conversant in a couple of of the greens that fall into this household. Butternut and spaghetti squash have turn into fan favorites lately, however I’d additionally suggest making an attempt your hand at a recipe that features delicata or pink kuri squash this fall. Hold scrolling for recommendations on easy methods to establish the seven hottest kinds of winter squash, plus some must-try recipes beneath.
How To Inform if a Squash Is Ripe
To inform if a squash is ripe, you’ll want to take a look at the outside. The pores and skin needs to be a matte shade (if it’s shiny, it’s not ripe but) and may have a tough exterior.
All through the season, I’m apt to choose up kabocha squash, delicata squash, a sugar pumpkin, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and pink kuri squash for experimenting with my favourite winter squash recipes. After all, once I’m in full-on fall mode, I can’t assist however seize some mini gourds and pumpkins, too! These are primarily used for adornment however may be present in some recipes as nicely.
How one can Establish the Seven Most Common Winter Squash
Kabocha: squat, inexperienced squash with faint white strains working up and down the floor
Delicata: yellow cylindrical squash with inexperienced and orange stripes alongside the ridges
Sugar Pumpkin: small, nearly completely spherical pumpkin in vivid orange
Acorn: darkish inexperienced squash with thick ridges all the best way round
Butternut: bell-shaped squash with a lightweight peachy yellow exterior
Spaghetti: spherical cylindrical squash with a vivid yellow exterior
Crimson Kuri: heat orange squash with a lopsided form
20 Winter Squash Recipes to Fulfill Your Seasonal Cravings
That is your signal to choose up a squash you haven’t tried subsequent time you’re on the grocery retailer or farmer’s market. For me, the toughest a part of making an attempt new meals is discovering methods to include them into recipes. Under I’ve shared 20 scrumptious recipes utilizing my favourite kinds of winter squash.
Roasted Honeynut Squash with Scorching Honey, Pecans, and Rosemary
Let me introduce: a easy but show-stopping facet dish that’s filled with taste. The pure sweetness of the roasted squash is completely balanced by a drizzle of spicy sizzling honey and a sprinkle of flaky salt. With minimal components and most affect, it’s a dish that may elevate any meal.
Squash & Farro Salad With Apples, Goat Cheese, & Pecans
This salad is the proper marriage of hearty and recent, making it a super dish for any season. Roasted delicata squash and nutty farro create a satisfying base, whereas vivid herbs and a zesty French dressing add layers of taste. Topped with creamy goat cheese and crunchy pecans, it’s a crowd-pleasing salad that’s as lovely as it’s scrumptious.
Butternut Squash and Ricotta Tart
This butternut squash is a serious stunner that appears far more sophisticated than it truly is. With a flaky crust and creamy ricotta, layers of seasonal root veggies come collectively to make the last word cold-weather appetizer.
Roasted Delicata Squash With Feta, Almonds, and Herbs
When you’re unfamiliar with it, delicata squash is barely candy, caramelizes completely, and is the perfect canvas for all of fall’s flavors. This particular recipe serves it with a easy dressing and plenty of toppings to make the squash an entire meal. The crunch from the almonds and the creaminess from the feta is simply the icing on prime of the already scrumptious cake.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
Each savory and candy, this pasta is every part heat and comfy in a bowl. It will possibly generally show a problem to create a creamy and decadent dish that’s dairy-free, however this pasta does simply that (and a few extra!).
Butternut Squash Pizza With Arugula & Almond Ricotta
As seasons come and go, one factor stays the identical: my love for pizza. This butternut squash pizza shot its method as much as the highest of my favourite winter squash recipes as a result of it’s seasonal, dairy-free (though you wouldn’t realize it), and downright scrumptious. The candy squash and almond ricotta mixed with the savory bacon can have you going again for third and fourth slices.
Complete Roasted Butternut Squash
In the case of winter squash recipes, roasting these roots is at all times my go-to methodology of prep. For this go-to roasted butternut squash recipe, all you want is 2 hours within the oven to create a scrumptious, filling, and hassle-free appetizer.
Curried Roasted Winter Squash Soup
This scrumptious winter soup is Chitra Agrawal’s go-to weeknight meal, and I can’t blame her. I like which you can make it with any winter squash—butternut, acorn, kabocha, or delicata—so that you’ll by no means develop bored with it. Plus, for those who roast the squash forward of time, this recipe comes collectively in a single pot.
Sluggish Roasted Cod with Broccolini, Winter Squash, And Mint
I like a recipe that feels extremely elegant, but comes collectively in a matter of minutes. (Bonus: it’s baked in a single pan.) This roasted cod with broccolini, squash, and mint does precisely that, supplying you with a restaurant-grade meal with minimal effort. You may make this recipe with any agency white fish or winter squash, and the formulation will prove simply as scrumptious each time.
Butternut Squash, Spinach, & Goat Cheese Pasta
I’m a sucker for a very good fall pasta, and this is without doubt one of the best and finest recipes I’ve tried. The quick record of components comes collectively in only one bowl and is ideal for a comfortable weeknight or a wine night time with pals. Take it from me: the optionally available sage leaves ought to most positively not be optionally available.
Crispy Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa
This straightforward but scrumptious fall meal will likely be your new weeknight hero. The butternut squash is golden and crispy on the skin and creamy and heat on the within—simply how I prefer it. The currant French dressing completely brightens the dish, enhances the autumn flavors, and brings all of it collectively. Plus, you’ll need to bookmark this genius tip for cooking quinoa.
Curry Butternut Squash Soup
My roommate and I’ve began a brand new custom this fall: Soup Mondays. I do know you’re considering that Soup Sundays makes extra sense, however we coincidentally had soup two Mondays in a row, and it caught. On faucet for this week is that this comforting curry butternut squash soup. The curry provides much more taste than conventional butternut squash soup, which is already a favourite of mine. It’s additionally freezer-friendly and among the finest winter squash recipes for meal prep.
Wild Grain & Winter Squash Salad
Salads that don’t really feel like salads are trending on TikTok and this wild grain and winter squash salad needs to be going viral. With no leafy greens to be seen, it’s an incredible recipe for whenever you need one thing just a little extra comforting however nonetheless wholesome. The delicata and dumpling squash relaxation on a mattress of rice and are topped with almonds, feta, and loads of herbs to fulfill each single style bud.
This Roasted Delicata Squash & Kale Salad Is On My Thanksgiving Menu
This colourful and seasonal salad is the proper addition to your whole fall dinner events. It comes from Sheela Prakash’s cookbook Mediterranean Each Day and is simply as wholesome as it’s comforting. I like making a giant batch of this on Sunday to have available all week because it’s filled with veggies that received’t get soggy from the dressing.
Pita Tostadas with Butternut Squash, Black Beans, & Avocado
As a lot as I like squash recipes, generally they’ll all begin to style the identical. These tostadas, nonetheless, are the proper approach to shake issues up whereas nonetheless consuming with the season. Camille took the genius method of swapping tortillas for pita bread on this recipe, which makes the proper chewy, golden-brown crust for this Tex-mex spin on squash.
Roasted Butternut Squash Full of Goat Cheese, Figs, and Pesto
Simply the title of this recipe makes my mouth water. Butternut squash, goat cheese, and pesto are three of my favourite meals and thrown collectively—they’ll’t be beat. This is a wonderful reasonably priced, wholesome, vegetarian meal so as to add to your fall meal rotation.
Delicata Squash Salad with Pistachios and Marinated Lentils
Certainly one of my favourite meal-prep winter squash recipes is that this delicata squash salad. Add your favourite greens and complement them with crunchy pistachios and creamy feta cheese for essentially the most mouthwatering fall bowl.
Turmeric Roasted Kabocha Squash Salad
To have a good time every part we love most about fall in a lighter, plant-packed type, this turmeric squash salad throws collectively loads of vitamins and all kinds of flavors. Pumpkin seeds and cranberries add a little bit of texture and tanginess to enhance your candy autumn star.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
This soup is my favourite approach to dive into squash season. It’s one of many coziest soups I’ve ever had whereas nonetheless tasting clear and wholesome. Because of the coconut milk, it’s extremely creamy with none cream in any respect. I extremely suggest doubling this recipe and saving it for lunch or protecting it within the freezer for a wet day.
Roasted Acorn Squash
The brown butter and hazelnuts, with the trace of spice from the chili flakes, create the flavour combo you didn’t know you wanted.
