17 Delicata Squash Recipes to Get you Through Winter (2024)

You ready? This is the time of year to start rolling out your best delicata squash recipes. If you're a long-time reader, you know how much I love this scalloped varietal. Partly because it's delicious, but also because it's a breeze to prepare. Not only can you eat the flesh, you can also go for the peel, and it's arguably the best part. You know where it gets golden and deeply toasted at the edges? Yeah, that's hard to beat. Here are seventeen delicata squash recipes to inspire, and get you through the cold months. Enjoy!

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1.Parmesan Crusted Delicata Squash(Skinnytaste)Love this. If you're looking for an easy way to elevate straight delicata, simply cover with this parmesan mixture and bake.

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2.Whole Wheat Pasta with Walnut-Sage Pesto and Roasted Delicata Squash(A Beautiful Plate) This recipe is a good example of using delicata squash as part of a main, a great weeknight pasta dish.

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3.Roasted Delicata Squash with Apples & Sage Recipe(Love and Lemons) Here's a classic, beautiful fall main, adding apples, sage and pepitas, with a mustardy vinegar dressing to top it off.

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4.Wild Rice and Kale Stuffed Delicata Squash(Delish Knowledge) Most of the recipes in this round-up have the delicata cut into half-moons, but if you are looking for a special occasion presentation, stuffed squash never fails to impress.

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5.Creamy Delicata Squash Pasta With Crispy Sage(the Feed Feed) When it's the middle of winter, the days are very short and comfort food is in order, this recipe looks perfect.

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6.Roasted Delicata Squash Tian(Hungry Hobby) This recipe brings the visual drama. Get out your sharpest knife, your fav prep soundtrack, and give it a go.

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7.Sesame-roasted, Maple Chipotle Delicata Squash(Viktoria's Table) Another visual stunner, this is a combination I've never tried that gets a lot of credit for originality.

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8.Delicata, Pomegranate and Arugula Salad(Cookie and Kate) This is a beautiful, dreamy combination of zesty arugula, creamy delicata squash and tangy-sweet pomegranate.

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8.Delicata Squash Agrodolce Recipe(PureWow / Athena Calderone) A recipe originally from Athena Calderone’s stunner of a book Cook Beautiful. Delicious and reasonably easy to prepare.

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9.Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Warm Pickled Onion Dressing(Healthy Seasonal Recipes) A bold flavor combination that I've never tried before, this looks like a recipe that could be a make-ahead lunch option.

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10.Roasted Delicata Squash with Chilies, Lime & Cilantro(Alexandra Cooks) This is a fresh mixture of things I love, I can imagine a version that increases the quantity of cilantro to make a full-on salad.

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11.Twice Baked Delicata Squash + Crispy Za'atar Roasted Chickpeas (What's cooking good looking) Za'atar, chickpeas and delicata is a wickedly smart combination of elements I love in a recipe.

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12.Delicata Squash Tacos with Black Beans(Naturally Ella) I'm surprised there aren't more delicata tacos on menus, but this is a great option for lunch or a weeknight meal.

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13.Roasted Delicata Squash Salad(101 Cookbooks) Here's a classic from the archives, combining a few favorite things, miso and harissa. If you've never cooked with delicate, start here.

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14.Miso Sesame Winter Squash Recipe(101 Cookbooks) Miso, tamari and maple syrup create a lovely flavor combination for this delicata dish.

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15.Roasted Vegetable Orzo Recipe (101 Cookbooks) Here's a quick dish that would make a great make-ahead lunch.

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16.Green Curry Porridge Recipe(101 Cookbooks) Pan-toasted brown rice, spicy herb-packed green coconut broth, punctuated with delicata and lots of green onions.

History of Delicata Squash

Delicata squash is one of my favorite seasonal vegetables. The name describes it well, the skin is delicate and regardless of being baked, fried or steamed, does not have to be removed to be eaten. Delicata is native to the Americas, but despite that long history, it apparently fell out of favor in the 1930s due to lack of availability due to crop disease. It wasn't until the early 2000s that a disease-resistant varietal became popular and today it's again relatively easy to find.

Basic Preparation of Delicata Squash

Besides being delicious, delicata is easy to prepare. Cut lengthwise, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds, slice in 1/4-inch half moons. Toss with some oil and salt and pepper, put on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees until brown. Beyond that most basic method, the following recipes should provide enough inspiration to experiment beyond the basic!

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17 Delicata Squash Recipes to Get you Through Winter (2024)

FAQs

Can you get delicata squash year round? ›

Delicata squash is available in the fall up until early winter. However, in some areas, you can get it year-round.

Do you eat the skin on delicata squash? ›

Always: Acorn, Delicata, Honeynut

Wofford and our test kitchen editors will leave the skin on delicata, acorn, and honeynut squash to save time, add nutrients, and reduce food waste. These varieties have thin skins that soften readily when cooked. Next time you slice a delicata into rings ready to roast, don't peel it.

How to store delicata squash long term? ›

Storage tips: Winter Squash is best stored between 55-65 degrees, however, Delicata squash does not store quite as well as heartier varieties like Acorn and Butternut. Place in a cool dry room in your house (do not refrigerate) and it should last 3 months.

Is delicata squash a winter squash? ›

Although delicata is typically considered a winter squash variety, it actually belongs to the same species as summer squash varieties like cousa, zucchini, pattypan, etc. The delicata squash is sometimes referred to as a sweet potato squash or a peanut squash.

How many delicata squash does one plant produce? ›

Takes 3 to 4 sqft of space and yielded 6 to 12 tasty squashes per plant.

Can you eat too much delicata squash? ›

"Squash contains a toxin known as Cucurbitacin E, which can give the squash a bitter taste. If too much of the toxin is consumed it can cause illness. It is rare, but if the squash has a bitter taste, stop eating it, and grab another one."

What are the side effects of delicata squash? ›

Risks and Side Effects

As with any food, taking note of any unusual reaction, such as itching or swelling, is important, but there are no known problems with the delicata squash. However, because of its fiber content, too much could cause flatulence.

Why is delicata squash so good? ›

Not only is delicata squash pretty to look at, but it's also nutritious. It's a good source of potassium and dietary fiber, and contains magnesium, manganese, and vitamins C and B.

Can you freeze delicata squash? ›

Peel and cut the squash into chunks of any size. Spread the pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the freezer. When completely frozen, transfer the squash to a freezer safe container with 1/2-inch headspace to allow for food expansion.

How do you know if delicata squash is still good? ›

Stem: Inspect the stem if it's still attached, and check to see that it's not dried up, brown or moldy. These are all bad signs that it's time to throw the squash away. Discoloration: If you see dark spots, puckering, or odd color, this is a sign the squash will have a bitter taste and is starting to go bad.

Why is delicata squash hard to find? ›

Delicata Squash Defining Qualities & History

It was rare to find it on the shelves of grocery stores or in many restaurants. This is actually because delicata squash was once prone to mildew diseases in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Is Delicata squash available year round? ›

Delicata squash is sown after the last frost in spring and is harvested in early fall. Delicata squash is in season from September through November. After the squash are harvested, they can be stored safely for about 3 months in a cool, dry place, so they can be enjoyed throughout the fall and into the winter.

When should you harvest Delicata squash? ›

Harvest Your Plant

The average weight of a mature Delicata is between one and two pounds. When the skin of the squash has changed to a wonderful cream color and it has developed its orange and green stripes, the crop may be ready to pick at this point. Try scratching the skin with your fingernails to verify this.

How to Cook Delicata Squash - The Forked SpoonThe Forked Spoonhttps://theforkedspoon.com ›

Quick and easy recipe for roasted Delicata Squash - no peeling required. Perfect for stuffing, mashing, and pureeing, learn how to cook delicata squash and serv...
Delicata is an heirloom winter squash with skin that's tender enough to eat. Get our favorite recipes and easy tips for how to cook delicata squash.
Our best delicata squash recipes include squash and kale on nutty spelt focaccia, roasted squash with fragrant vanilla butter, cozy coconut chickpeas with squas...

Can you buy squash year round? ›

Most squash varieties, especially trendy varieties like butternut, kabocha, and banana squash, are found all year round in supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmer's markets.

What is the longest keeping winter squash? ›

Storage life varies by squash type. Acorn squash stores the shortest amount of time: 4 weeks. Spaghetti stores four to five weeks; Buttercup, 13 weeks; Butternut, up to six months; Blue Hubbard, six to seven months.

Does squash grow year round? ›

Between summer and winter varieties, you can enjoy this delicious, easy-to-grow vegetable all year long. Crookneck, tromboncino, kabocha… no, those aren't the names of characters from a fantasy novel. But they are a few of the many varieties of squash available for growing in your garden.

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