food
By Katherine Gillen
•
Published Sep 24, 2021
Butternut? Been there, done that. This winter squash season, we’re expanding our repertoire and embracing a new gourd: delicata. Never tried it? It’s small and cylindrical with a nutty, earthy, sweet-potato-esque flavor and a thin, striped rind that—get this—doesn’t need to be peeled. Oh, and it’s versatile to boot, whether you’re roasting up a simple vegetable side dish or transforming it into a fall-friendly soup. Not sure where to start? Try any of these 30 delicata squash recipes.
But first, a few tips for working with delicata squash
- Delicata squash doesn’t require peeling because the rind is thin and edible when cooked. But breaking down a winter squash can still be tough. Save your precious fingers by using a super sharp kitchen knife (dull knives cause more injuries) and stabilizing the squash with your nondominant hand—fingertips curled under, please.
- To slice a delicata squash into rounds, simply trim the ends and slice crosswise into ½-inch rings. Use a spoon to remove the seeds.
- For half-moon cuts, trim the ends, carefully halve the entire squash and remove the seeds with a spoon, then slice each half into ½-inch half-moons.
- To cube a delicata, proceed as if you’re slicing half-moons, but cut the squash halves lengthwise into strips instead, then cut the strips into cubes.
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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman
1. Delicata Squash Rings With Garlic-lemon Sauce
We’re calling it: Delicata rings are the new onion rings.
Get the recipe
Let’s Stay In
2. Roasted Delicata Squash Salad
Imagine this in your Thanksgiving spread. The fresh flavor and vibrant color will be *so* welcome among all those creamy, rich classics.
Get the recipe
Cook Beautiful
3. Delicata Squash Agrodolce
Agrodolce is just Italian for “sweet and sour.” Here, that means honey, lime juice, white wine vinegar and a side dish that will totally bowl over your dinner guests.
Get the recipe
How Sweet Eats
4. Pumpkin Seed Pesto Pasta With Caramelized Delicata Squash
Arugula pumpkin seed pesto is to sweaters and scarves as basil pine nut is to bikinis and beach reads. (Or something like that.)
The Bojon Gourmet
5. Roasted Delicata Squash With Miso Butter
This dish is simple to put together, but the way the sweet squash and savory, salty miso butter complement each other is *chef’s kiss.*
Dinner at the Zoo
6. Brown Sugar Delicata Squash
This one goes out to fans of that sweet potato marshmallow casserole number.
Feasting at Home
7. Roasted Delicata Squash With Hazelnuts
A back-pocket trick to making any vegetable side feel fancier than it is? Add toasted nuts.
The Simple Veganista
8. Roasted Delicata Squash Fries
They’re like sweet potato fries, only elevated.
Healthy Nibbles and Bits
9. Harissa-roasted Cauliflower With Delicata Squash And Chickpeas
Oh look, it’s our other favorite cool-weather veggie, cauliflower. Pair this dish with a grain for a light-yet-satisfying main.
Esteban Castillo/Chicano Eats
10. Chorizo-spiced Delicata Squash Tortas
This certainly beats a . (No offense, PB&J.)
Get the recipe
What’s Gaby Cooking
11. Delicata Squash Salad
With cranberries, pistachios, honey balsamic and plenty of feta.
The Simple Veganista
12. Stuffed Delicata Squash With Quinoa, Cranberry And Pistachio
If you’re not eating out of a gourd at least once this season, you’re doing it wrong.
How Sweet Eats
13. Roasted Squash With Brown Butter And Toasted Quinoa
Think of the toasted quinoa like crispy, savory, brown-buttery sprinkles.
Half Baked Harvest
14. Crockpot Parmesan White Bean Chicken Soup With Roasted Delicata Squash
It’s so much more interesting than plain chicken soup, and it basically makes itself in the slow cooker while you re-watch every episode of The Great British Bake-Off (or scroll through TikTok).
Cookie and Kate
15. Roasted Delicata Squash, Pomegranate And Arugula Salad
Great news: It tastes as good as it looks.
The Creative Bite
16. Crispy Sage Roasted Delicata Squash
Sage and squash are a natural pair, and the balsamic glaze just boosts those fall flavors even more. (Bonus, it’s vegan.)
How Sweet Eats
17. Grilled Autumn Vegetables With Sage Brown Butter Dip
If you’re only grilling in the summer months, allow this gorgeous crudité platter to change your mind. You might need a headlamp, but the results are worth it.
The Defined Dish
18. Sticky Pomegranate Meatball Bowls
It’s easy enough to make on a weeknight, but tastes like the opposite of a boring weeknight meal.
Cookie and Kate
19. Chipotle-glazed Delicata Squash
Serve the spicy-sweet squash over rice and beans for a complete meal.
Minimalist Baker
20. Delicata Squash Bake With Tahini Sauce
Nine ingredients and 30 minutes are all it takes to add a new staple to your holiday menu.
The Endless Meal
21. Roasted Root Vegetables With Maple-vanilla Butter
Maple-vanilla butter on vegetables sounds strange but tastes like magic.
The Bojon Gourmet
22. Roasted Delicata Squash With Brown Butter And Pomegranate
Pomegranate molasses, a tangy Middle Eastern staple, is the key to this side dish. Serve it on its own or over a bed of risotto or polenta for the ultimate comforting dinner.
Half Baked Harvest
23. Buttered Mushroom, Fig And Bacon Galette With Roasted Squash
Pie for dinner > pie for dessert.
The Defined Dish
24. Kale Salad With Roasted Delicata Squash And Miso Dressing
If loving kale is wrong, we don’t want to be right. Since it doesn’t get wilty, it’s the ideal pair for hearty toppings like roasted delicata squash.
Floating Kitchen
25. Delicata Squash Salad Bowls
Or flip the script and put the salad inside the squash.
What’s Gaby Cooking
26. Vegetarian Tacos With Delicata Squash And Mushrooms
Everything tastes better in a taco.
Half Baked Harvest
27. Fall Harvest Quinoa Salad
Summer might be salad season, but fall salads deserve more love. They’re hearty, cozy and an excellent way to enjoy the season’s produce.
What’s Cooking Good Looking
28. Twice Baked Delicata Squash With Crispy Za’atar Roasted Chickpeas
The thin skin makes delicata great for twice baking. Think of them as slightly fancier, slightly healthier potatoes.
Plays Well with Butter
29. Grilled Apple Cider Chicken With Grilled Spiced Delicata And Sweet Potatoes
We’re thinking about replacing our Thanksgiving turkey with this dish—just look at it.
What's Gaby Cooking
30. Wild Mushroom Roasted Squash Pizza
Squash on pizza? Your takeout place could never.
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Katherine Gillen
Senior Food Editor
Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...
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