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

However don’t be postpone by the robust exterior — we’ll share tips about easy methods to cook dinner acorn squash with ease and use it in numerous dishes.

Easy methods to Select and Prep Acorn Squash

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

Wash and dry your acorn squash for the reason that outer pores and skin might be edible. Actually, most recipes will let you know to maintain the pores and skin intact, so that you don’t must peel the squash (until 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. At all times use a pointy and durable knife.

1. Verify for a flat, secure 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 stress to the highest of the knife. It’s OK to carry the knife out and reposition as wanted because you don’t need the blade to get caught.
3. Slice during. In case you’re virtually executed and the knife received’t budge, use your palms to tug the squash aside; simply be aware of your blade.

Easy methods to Roast Acorn Squash

Completely roasted acorn squash is gentle, 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, calmly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. For a candy, caramelized squash, calmly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with sugar or honey and a touch of your favourite spice (e.g. cinnamon).
3. Put the squash in a baking pan. Place it flesh aspect down in the event you favor a bit char. In case you’re involved concerning the squash drying out, maintain 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. In case you can poke a fork simply into the flesh, it’s executed.

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 permits steam to flee once you microwave.
2. Season your squash halves. For savory squash, calmly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. For a candy, caramelized squash, calmly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with sugar or honey and a touch 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. In case you can poke a fork simply into the flesh, it’s executed.

Microwaved squash misses the caramelized taste of roasted squash.

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

Dishes That Pair Nicely 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 nicely with acorn squash:

• Vegetable soup: Acorn squash might be lower into chunks and added to vegetable soup if the soup cooks for not less than half-hour. It’s also possible to add cooked and cubed acorn squash to ready-made vegetable soup. Or make a creamy soup by pureeing cooked acorn squash. You should utilize acorn squash interchangeably with butternut squash, which suggests 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 you can simply add to a casserole earlier than baking. It’s also possible to lower the pasta out completely by substituting sliced, calmly baked, or microwaved acorn squash. Go gluten-free!

Excellent news: Acorn squash isn’t the one winter squash to take pleasure in! Take a look at The Well being Advantages of Butternut Squash or FIXATE Spaghetti Squash Fritters.