The perfect mix of savory and sweet, acorn squash should definitely be part of your fall and winter menus! It’s a type of gourd that is related to pumpkins, butternut squash and zucchini. What’s the best way to cook acorn squash.You might want to bring home an armful for all the delectable dishes made with scrumptious acorn squash. Your acorn squash will keep for three to six months if you store it in a cool, dry area away from extreme temps and sunlight. When available, pick one that has a stem (that nifty stem helps keeps bacteria out). When shopping for an acorn squash, choose one that's dull and heavy for its size, and free of soft spots and cracks. Here's a recipe for Maple Glazed Acorn Squash that relies on a garam masala blend and cinnamon for seasoning, as well as maple syrup and butter for, well, extra scrumptiousness. Pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice would work well in a dessert featuring acorn squash, for example, while a curry or grilling blend works well for savory dishes, like this Curried Winter Squash and Chicken Stew. Freshly cooked acorn squash flesh can be used in place of canned pumpkin in recipes.įor helpful instructions on cutting and peeling winter squash, see Delightful Winter Squash.įrom the spice rack, you might choose cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, black pepper or rosemary to season your squash. In desserts, think custards, pies, cookies and bars. ![]() Squash soups and stews, whether creamy smooth or chunky and hearty, are welcome additions to the menu come fall and winter. Toss chunks of squash into stir-fries and casseroles, and fold the pureed flesh into quick breads, muffins and other baked goods. Roasted acorn squash is a delightful addition to salads, too, like this Roasted Squash and Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese. Apples and acorn squash also go well together, as in this tasty Winter Squash and Apple Bake. Walnuts, chestnuts and pecans are good choices for nuts, and for fruits, pair the squash with raisins, cranberries, dried cherries, figs or apricot preserves. For sweeteners, consider maple syrup, honey, agave syrup or orange juice. There's no end to the ways to enjoy an acorn squash-baked, grilled, microwaved or steamed stuffed with nuts, dried fruits, grains, breads or other cooked veggies drizzled with a natural sweetener or just topped with a pat of butter. producers of acorn squash (Mexico and Costa Rica are also big growers), but it thrives in most areas of the United States, so in season you can likely find a local provider at your farmers market or via your food co-op. Here are the names of some of the other varieties you might come across in the produce section: Seneca Autumn Queen, Table Ace, Early Acorn, Golden Acorn, Tay Belle, Royal Acorn, Cream of the Crop, Ebony and Table King.įlorida and California are the main U.S. There are also yellow/gold acorn, white acorn, and multi-colored (orange, green and white striped) squash. The most popular acorns are the blackish/dark green variety, often speckled with orange patches these are the green acorn squash, also known as Des Moines squash, pepper squash and Table Queen. ![]() While considered a winter squash (it certainly looks and tastes like one), the acorn is actually a member of the same species as summer squashes, like those long zucchinis and yellow crooknecks. It also provides thiamin, potassium, manganese, vitamin A, Vitamin B6, folate and magnesium. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both avid growers of the hearty acorn squash, which continues to grow well all over the United States.Ī prime example of a healthful food that pleases the palate, the sweet, slightly nutty flesh is a very good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. ![]() When the acorn squash first migrated to Europe, though, the Europeans would have argued with the "scrumptious" description they thought it was a melon, and sampled it raw. The fun-looking (what other produce resembles a nut?), hardy, easy-to-prepare and scrumptious squash was a staple for Native Americans, who introduced it to European settlers. Acorn squash is an all-American veggie if ever there was one.
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