Delicious Squash Recipes: From Garden to Table Soup

Explore Nutrient-Dense Squash Recipes

Squash varieties from the Cucurbitaceae family, including pumpkins, gourds, and winter squash, may seem intimidating at first glance. However, beyond their colorful and tough exteriors lies nutrient-dense flesh perfect for hearty soups and flavorful dishes.

Understanding Squash Varieties

Squash comes in various forms, each with its unique characteristics and culinary uses. From the sweet and creamy Kabocha to the versatile Acorn and the flavorful Sugar Pumpkin, there's a squash variety for every palate and occasion.

Cooking Tips for Squash Preparation

Before diving into cooking, it's essential to prepare squash properly. For Kabocha squash, soften the skin in a preheated oven to ease cutting and peeling. Acorn squash can be sliced and roasted with a drizzle of olive oil for a delightful side dish. Sugar pumpkins are best roasted whole to retain moisture and enhance sweetness. Delicata squash, with its edible skin, can be sliced, seasoned, and baked for a simple yet delicious snack.

Repurposing Squash Seeds

Don't discard squash seeds! Repurpose them into tasty snacks by rinsing and seasoning them with olive oil, spices, and a pinch of salt. Roast the seeds until lightly browned and enjoy them as a crunchy topping for salads, yogurt, or chia pudding.

Kabocha

Also known as Japanese pumpkin, kabocha squash has green skin, orange flesh, and a shape similar to pumpkin. The flesh is super sweet when cooked and is rich in beta-carotene - 1 cup has more than 200% DV of vitamin A! Before preparing for cooking, place whole squash in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes to soften the skin – it will make cutting, peeling, and chopping an easier and much safer experience. Try using kabocha in place of the butternut squash in your favorite soup.

Acorn

Acorn squash varies in color from dark green to tie-dyed green with orange shades. The flesh is less sweet than kabocha and is more yellow than orange. Just one cup provides more than 25% DV of vitamin C. You can soften the squash if needed by heating in the oven, although it is small enough that this may not be needed. Trim the top from each squash, invert on the cutting board, and slice from bottom to top to create two halves. Remove seeds. You can bake the halves with a drizzle of olive oil and a touch of maple syrup for 30 minutes at 350°F – an excellent side dish. You can also slice into half moons to prepare for roasting.

Sugar Pumpkin

Sugar pumpkins look a lot like carving pumpkins so be sure to select those marked especially for cooking. They are sweeter than those cultivated for jack-o-lantern displays. The best way to cook the flesh is to roast the entire pumpkin – this allows the flesh to remain moist and helps the sugars to develop. Remove stem from pumpkin, rinse, and make several slits through the skin with a sharp knife. Bake at 350°F for about an hour. Remove from the oven and let sit until cooled. Cut the top portion off [around where the stem would be], remove seeds, and scoop out flesh. We’ve been known to add pumpkin to our hummus and stir into our yogurt. Of course, you can always use it for baking!

Delicata

Probably on the top of our list for ease of preparation! Delicata squash has a mild, nutty flavor, firm flesh, and thin edible skin. Preparing this variety could not be simpler: rinse, cut in half, remove seeds, slice into half-moons, toss with some olive oil and salt and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes until browned. Delicious enough to eat on their own as a fiber-rich snack!

Conclusion: Embracing Squash in Your Culinary Adventures

From soups to snacks, squash offers endless culinary possibilities. Experiment with different varieties and cooking methods to discover new flavors and textures that will elevate your dishes and nourish your body.

Explore the vibrant world of squash and unleash your creativity in the kitchen. With a little preparation and a dash of inspiration, you can transform these humble vegetables into culinary masterpieces that delight the senses and nourish the soul.