Acorn squash is a type of winter squash with a darkish inexperienced rind and golden-orange flesh. It’s formed like an acorn and may be simply as robust! Earlier civilizations have been identified to roast complete acorn squash in out of doors clay and brick ovens.

However don’t be delay by the robust exterior — we’ll share tips about tips on how to cook dinner acorn squash with ease and use it in varied dishes.

Easy methods to Select and Prep Acorn Squash

How are you going to inform an acorn squash is able to cook dinner? When shopping for acorn squash, select ones that don’t have any tender spots or bruising. A ripe squash is a deep inexperienced with a yellow spot.

Wash and dry your acorn squash because the outer pores and skin shall be edible. In reality, most recipes will inform you to maintain the pores and skin intact, so that you don’t have to peel the squash (except you actually don’t just like the pores and skin).

If you wish to eat it sans pores and skin, peel it after you cook dinner the squash — it’ll be a lot simpler!

Easy methods to Minimize Acorn Squash

Watch out to not injure your self — slicing into an acorn squash is hard due to its odd form. All the time use a pointy and durable knife.

1. Verify for a flat, steady backside. In case your squash doesn’t sit flat, lower the squash’s backside (the place you see the underside stem) to create a flat floor. Then, stand it upright.
2. Minimize the squash slowly. Place the knife on the high of the squash and rock the blade aspect to aspect, utilizing your free palm to use strain to the highest of the knife. It’s OK to elevate the knife out and reposition as wanted because you don’t need the blade to get caught.
3. Slice all through. If you happen to’re nearly performed and the knife gained’t budge, use your fingers to tug the squash aside; simply be conscious of your blade.

Easy methods to Roast Acorn Squash

Completely roasted acorn squash is delicate, candy, nutty, and really simple to make. When you’ve lower your acorn squash in half, use a spoon to take away the seeds. Then comply with these steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
2. Season your squash halves. For savory squash, flippantly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. For a candy, caramelized squash, flippantly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with sugar or honey and a splash of your favourite spice (e.g. cinnamon).
3. Put the squash in a baking pan. Place it flesh aspect down in the event you choose a bit of char. If you happen to’re involved in regards to the squash drying out, hold it flesh aspect up and pour in a small layer of water to maintain it moist because it bakes.
4. Roast the squash for 45 to 60 minutes. If you happen to can poke a fork simply into the flesh, it’s performed.

Can You Prepare dinner Acorn Squash within the Microwave?

Completely. Microwaving cuts down on the cooking time for acorn squash. To make microwaved acorn squash:

1. Poke your squash halves with a knife a number of occasions. This enables steam to flee if you microwave.
2. Season your squash halves. For savory squash, flippantly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. For a candy, caramelized squash, flippantly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with sugar or honey and a splash of your favourite spice (e.g. cinnamon).
3. Put squash in a microwave-safe bowl. Cowl it with a microwave-safe splatter cowl or a plate.
4. Microwave on excessive for 10 to 12 minutes. If you happen to can poke a fork simply into the flesh, it’s performed.

Microwaved squash misses the caramelized taste of roasted squash.

However, you possibly can add a few of that again by flippantly coating your squash with nonstick cooking spray, sprinkling it with a bit of coconut sugar, and broiling it on excessive for about 5 minutes.

Dishes That Pair Effectively With Acorn Squash

You may serve cooked acorn squash as a easy standalone aspect dish. However, in the event you’re up for a culinary problem, many dishes pair properly with acorn squash:

• Vegetable soup: Acorn squash will be lower into chunks and added to vegetable soup if the soup cooks for a minimum of half-hour. You too can add cooked and cubed acorn squash to ready-made vegetable soup. Or make a creamy soup by pureeing cooked acorn squash. You need to use acorn squash interchangeably with butternut squash, which implies our apple butternut squash soup is ripe for a makeover!
• Leafy salads: Slice cooked acorn squash into your salads to make it style that rather more satisfying.
• Pasta sauce: Layer your marinara or different pasta sauces with the sweetness of cooked acorn squash.
• Layered casseroles: Cooked acorn squash is a supporting ingredient which you can simply add to a casserole earlier than baking. You too can lower the pasta out completely by substituting sliced, flippantly baked, or microwaved acorn squash. Go gluten-free!

Excellent news: Acorn squash isn’t the one winter squash to get pleasure from! Try The Well being Advantages of Butternut Squash or FIXATE Spaghetti Squash Fritters.