You ready? This is the time of year to start rolling out your best delicata squash recipes. If you're a long-time reader, you know how much I love this scalloped varietal. Partly because it's delicious, but also because it's a breeze to prepare. Not only can you eat the flesh, you can also go for the peel, and it's arguably the best part. You know where it gets golden and deeply toasted at the edges? Yeah, that's hard to beat. Here are seventeen delicata squash recipes to inspire, and get you through the cold months. Enjoy!
1.Parmesan Crusted Delicata Squash(Skinnytaste)Love this. If you're looking for an easy way to elevate straight delicata, simply cover with this parmesan mixture and bake.
2.Whole Wheat Pasta with Walnut-Sage Pesto and Roasted Delicata Squash(A Beautiful Plate) This recipe is a good example of using delicata squash as part of a main, a great weeknight pasta dish.
3.Roasted Delicata Squash with Apples & Sage Recipe(Love and Lemons) Here's a classic, beautiful fall main, adding apples, sage and pepitas, with a mustardy vinegar dressing to top it off.
4.Wild Rice and Kale Stuffed Delicata Squash(Delish Knowledge) Most of the recipes in this round-up have the delicata cut into half-moons, but if you are looking for a special occasion presentation, stuffed squash never fails to impress.
5.Creamy Delicata Squash Pasta With Crispy Sage(the Feed Feed) When it's the middle of winter, the days are very short and comfort food is in order, this recipe looks perfect.
6.Roasted Delicata Squash Tian(Hungry Hobby) This recipe brings the visual drama. Get out your sharpest knife, your fav prep soundtrack, and give it a go.
7.Sesame-roasted, Maple Chipotle Delicata Squash(Viktoria's Table) Another visual stunner, this is a combination I've never tried that gets a lot of credit for originality.
8.Delicata, Pomegranate and Arugula Salad(Cookie and Kate) This is a beautiful, dreamy combination of zesty arugula, creamy delicata squash and tangy-sweet pomegranate.
8.Delicata Squash Agrodolce Recipe(PureWow / Athena Calderone) A recipe originally from Athena Calderone’s stunner of a book Cook Beautiful. Delicious and reasonably easy to prepare.
9.Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Warm Pickled Onion Dressing(Healthy Seasonal Recipes) A bold flavor combination that I've never tried before, this looks like a recipe that could be a make-ahead lunch option.
10.Roasted Delicata Squash with Chilies, Lime & Cilantro(Alexandra Cooks) This is a fresh mixture of things I love, I can imagine a version that increases the quantity of cilantro to make a full-on salad.
11.Twice Baked Delicata Squash + Crispy Za'atar Roasted Chickpeas (What's cooking good looking) Za'atar, chickpeas and delicata is a wickedly smart combination of elements I love in a recipe.
12.Delicata Squash Tacos with Black Beans(Naturally Ella) I'm surprised there aren't more delicata tacos on menus, but this is a great option for lunch or a weeknight meal.
13.Roasted Delicata Squash Salad(101 Cookbooks) Here's a classic from the archives, combining a few favorite things, miso and harissa. If you've never cooked with delicate, start here.
14.Miso Sesame Winter Squash Recipe(101 Cookbooks) Miso, tamari and maple syrup create a lovely flavor combination for this delicata dish.
15.Roasted Vegetable Orzo Recipe (101 Cookbooks) Here's a quick dish that would make a great make-ahead lunch.
16.Green Curry Porridge Recipe(101 Cookbooks) Pan-toasted brown rice, spicy herb-packed green coconut broth, punctuated with delicata and lots of green onions.
History of Delicata Squash
Delicata squash is one of my favorite seasonal vegetables. The name describes it well, the skin is delicate and regardless of being baked, fried or steamed, does not have to be removed to be eaten. Delicata is native to the Americas, but despite that long history, it apparently fell out of favor in the 1930s due to lack of availability due to crop disease. It wasn't until the early 2000s that a disease-resistant varietal became popular and today it's again relatively easy to find.
Basic Preparation of Delicata Squash
Besides being delicious, delicata is easy to prepare. Cut lengthwise, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds, slice in 1/4-inch half moons. Toss with some oil and salt and pepper, put on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees until brown. Beyond that most basic method, the following recipes should provide enough inspiration to experiment beyond the basic!
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FAQs
Directions: Storage tips: Winter Squash is best stored between 55-65 degrees, however, Delicata squash does not store quite as well as heartier varieties like Acorn and Butternut. Place in a cool dry room in your house (do not refrigerate) and it should last 3 months.
Why is delicata squash good for you? ›
Delicata squash also has a ton of potassium: One cup delivers a whopping 500mg of the mineral, which can help control your blood pressure. As with many varieties of squash, it's also full of vitamin C, which plays a role in the growth and repair of body proteins.
Is delicata squash summer or winter? ›
Although delicata is typically considered a winter squash variety, it actually belongs to the same species as summer squash varieties like cousa, zucchini, pattypan, etc. The delicata squash is sometimes referred to as a sweet potato squash or a peanut squash.
What temperature do you roast delicata squash at? ›
Adjust oven rack to lowest position and preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Trim both ends of each delicata squash. Stand one squash up on the larger cut side and, using a chef's knife, slice it lengthwise, down through the center of the squash, creating two even halves.
How to preserve squash for winter? ›
Pack the cooked squash into freezer bags and store the bags horizontally for the most efficient use of freezer space. Alternatively, pack the squash into upright freezer containers leaving one inch of headspace. Either way, measure the squash before freezing it and label clearly with the amount.
Can you freeze uncooked delicata squash? ›
Storage and freezing instructions:
To freeze delicata squash, spread diced cubes on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer for a couple hours until frozen, then transfer the cubes to bags. Label the bags, store in the freezer for three to six months, and thaw before using.
How to store delicata squash long term? ›
Squash store best at an even 50°F in a dark place. This could be a cool and dark shelf, cabinet, or drawer in the kitchen, pantry, or closet. They also store well in a warmer section of the root cellar such as on the top shelf.
What are the side effects of delicata squash? ›
Risks and Side Effects
As with any food, taking note of any unusual reaction, such as itching or swelling, is important, but there are no known problems with the delicata squash. However, because of its fiber content, too much could cause flatulence.
Should you eat the skin of delicata squash? ›
Always: Acorn, Delicata, Honeynut
Wofford and our test kitchen editors will leave the skin on delicata, acorn, and honeynut squash to save time, add nutrients, and reduce food waste. These varieties have thin skins that soften readily when cooked. Next time you slice a delicata into rings ready to roast, don't peel it.
What is the healthiest squash to eat? ›
Butternut Squash: is packed with vitamin C and beta carotene, both of which act as antioxidants in the body and protect the cells from damage. Spaghetti Squash: also makes an excellent alternative to pasta due to its spaghetti-like strands.
So which winter squash is the overall nutrient heavyweight? Acorn squash wins the match. It offers more folate, calcium, magnesium (nearly one-third of a day's worth in one cup) and potassium than butternut, hubbard and spaghetti squash.
Is there another name for delicata squash? ›
Delicata squash is a variety of winter squash with cylindrical fruits that are cream-coloured and striped in green or orange. As its name suggests, it has characteristically a delicate rind (or skin). It is also known as peanut squash, Bohemian squash, or sweet potato squash.
Can you eat too much delicata squash? ›
Toxic squash syndrome can result from continuing to eat the bitter fruit. Some of the most rampant symptoms and indicators of toxic squash syndrome include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Toxic squash syndrome can be so severe that it can cause swelling in the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys.
Why is my delicata squash bitter? ›
The higher the levels of cucubitacin, the more bitter the squash will taste. The most likely cause for a bitter taste in squash is due to an environmental stress of some sort, most likely a wide temperature flux or irregular irrigation. Either of these will create an excess of cucurbitacins to concentrate in the fruit.
Can I eat a whole delicata squash? ›
You can roast the whole squash and eat the whole squash. How awesome is that? Roasted delicata tastes sweet and nutty. It is classified as a winter squash which for me on the East Coast means it's available from around September through early winter.
How do you cure delicata squash for storage? ›
Curing your squash requires storing them in higher temperatures (around 68 degrees F. or slightly higher) for a minimum of fifteen days. You then move them to a cool, dry place. Don't store your squash where there is a risk of freezing.
How to cure and store delicata squash? ›
Sun cure by exposing fruits for 5-7 days or cure indoors by keeping squash at 80-85°F/27-29°C with good air ventilation. STORAGE: Store at 50-60°F/10-15°C, 50-70% relative humidity and good ventilation. Repeated exposure to temperatures below 50°F/10°C may cause chilling damage.
Should I wash winter squash before storing? ›
Food Safety and Storage
Scrub winter squash with a vegetable brush under cool running water before cooking or cutting. Do not use soap. Do not wash squash before storing. Keep squash away from raw meat and meat juices to prevent cross-contamination.
How long does delicata squash last on the counter? ›
The squash should feel firm and heavy for its size. The squash should also be a light creamy yellow color with long green stripes. If the squash is more orange than yellow, it may be overripe. Uncooked whole delicata squash will last for up to 4 weeks on the kitchen counter.
