How to Cook Acorn Squash

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

But don’t be delay by the powerful exterior — we’ll share tips about the right way to prepare dinner acorn squash with ease and use it in varied dishes.

How to Choose and Prep Acorn Squash

How are you able to inform an acorn squash is able to prepare dinner? When shopping for acorn squash, select ones that haven’t any gentle 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 can be edible. In truth, most recipes will inform you to maintain the pores and skin intact, so that you don’t must peel the squash (except you actually don’t just like the pores and skin).

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

How to Cut Acorn Squash

Be cautious to not injure your self — slicing into an acorn squash is difficult due to its odd form. Always use a pointy and durable knife.

1. Check for a flat, secure backside. If 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. Cut the squash slowly. Place the knife on the high of the squash and rock the blade facet to facet, utilizing your free palm to use stress 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 throughout. If you’re virtually achieved and the knife gained’t budge, use your fingers to drag the squash aside; simply be conscious of your blade.

How to Roast Acorn Squash

Perfectly roasted acorn squash is delicate, candy, nutty, and really simple to make. Once you’ve lower your acorn squash in half, use a spoon to take away the seeds. Then observe 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 facet down when you desire a bit char. If you’re involved in regards to the squash drying out, hold it flesh facet 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 possibly can poke a fork simply into the flesh, it’s achieved.

Can You Cook Acorn Squash within the Microwave?

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

1. Poke your squash halves with a knife just a few occasions. This permits steam to flee while 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. Cover it with a microwave-safe splatter cowl or a plate.
4. Microwave on excessive for 10 to 12 minutes. If you possibly can poke a fork simply into the flesh, it’s achieved.

Microwaved squash misses the caramelized taste of roasted squash.

But, 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 Well With Acorn Squash

You can serve cooked acorn squash as a easy standalone facet dish. But, when you’re up for a culinary problem, many dishes pair effectively with acorn squash:

• Vegetable soup: Acorn squash might be lower into chunks and added to vegetable soup if the soup cooks for at the very least half-hour. You may also add cooked and cubed acorn squash to ready-made vegetable soup. Or make a creamy soup by pureeing cooked acorn squash. You can use 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 that you would be able to simply add to a casserole earlier than baking. You may also lower the pasta out completely by substituting sliced, calmly baked, or microwaved acorn squash. Go gluten-free!

Good information: Acorn squash isn’t the one winter squash to get pleasure from! Check out The Health Benefits of Butternut Squash or FIXATE Spaghetti Squash Fritters.