Delicata squash

It’s fall and that means the end of the summer squash (e.g.zucchini) and the beginning of winter squash (e.g. butternut squash). One of our favorite types of winter squash is delicata. While delicata is technically a winter squash, you could really call it a fall squash as it shares features of both summer and winter squash. Delicata is distinguished from other winter squash by it’s small size and thin yellow skin grooved with green stripes. Delicata is versatile ingredient that you can prepare in a wide variety of ways.

Our favorite way to prepare delicata squash is to enhance the natural sweetness of delicata squash with brown sugar and apple, balance with spiciness from chili and chipotle, and roast until the squash is soft and starts to caramelize.  Our roasted delicata squash recipe is a wonderful addition to any fall inspired dinner.

ingredients

YIELD

12 sugary spicy roasted delicata squash wedges (2-3 wedges typical serving size)

DIRECTIONS

  • Step #1 – Prepare delicata squash
    • Wash delicata squash
    • Use a knife to cut off each end
    • Using the peeler, peel the skin from each delicata squash. Note, due to the uneven surface of the delicata squash, it is fine to leave the skin in the “grooves”
    • Place the delicata squash on the cutting board and split it along the length with the knife
    • Using a spoon, remove the seeds and fiber from the middle of each delicata squash half
    • Lay each delicata squash half on the cutting board and cut in half across the width to produce 12 delicata squash wedges

  • Step #2 – Coat delicata squash with sugary spicy slurry
    • In a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of apple juice, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 tablespoon of oregano, 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle, 1/8 teaspoon salt (hint: if you don’t have ground chipotle, you can play around with the combinations to find your optimal balance of sweet/spicy. Try substituting or adding cayenne pepper, black pepper, Aleppo pepper, etc. to increase the spice level. Switch the apple juice with apple cider, or even applesauce, for more concentrated apple sweetness)
    • Mix to form slurry
    • Coat each delicata squash wedge with the spicy slurry and place in the casserole dish

Step 2 – Delicata squash wedges coated with sugary spicy slurry

  • Step #3 – Roast
    • Preheat oven (convection roast if available) to 400F
    • Place the casserole dish in the oven and convection roast for 30-35 minutes depending upon the thickness of your wedges (hint: rotate the squash wedges every 10 minutes to help keep them from drying out – 10 minutes inside up, 10 minutes on one side, 10 minutes on other side, etc)
    • Serve warm

Step 3 – Spicy sugary roasted delicata squash

ENJOY!