MNN - Mother Nature Network

‘Tis the season for pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and even pumpkin-flavored coffee. I love all of the above, but sometimes I relegate all of our squash to sweet treats, and that is a shame because winter squash — such as pumpkin, butternut squash and acorn squash — can be delicious served savory. The sweetness of winter squash lends itself well to sweet treats, but it also provides a wonderful backdrop to be balanced out with more savory ingredients.

 

I have been searching for some good recipes for inspiration, and I thought that the following sound wonderful (I also share a couple of my own, simple recipes too).

With rice: Creamy Crock-pot Pumpkin Risotto. To quote the cook behind this recipe, “This risotto is creamy, rich and comforting without any dairy at all. It’s quite unbelievable that this is not only gluten-free, but it is also vegan. The roast pumpkin and the pumpkin puree and not only provide a beautiful rich autumn-inspired hue to the dish, but a delicious hearty flavor. If you aren’t vegan and/or dairy-free this would also be quite delicious with a good chicken stock and some Parmigiano-Reggiano at the end, though I can say with confidence neither are needed or missed.” For a recipe without the use of a slow-cooker, check out this awesome recipe for risotto using winter squash from a friend.

 

With pasta: Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Parmesan and Sage. “This pumpkin pasta screams fall.” Yes, indeed! And it is a simple dish to throw together on a school night. Win-win in my mind. For a dairy-free version, this recipe for Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce has been a popular recipe since I shared it in the early days of my food blogging.

 

In a burger: Southwestern Pumpkin Burger. This is a cool idea — make burgers out of flavorful Southwest flavors like cumin, garlic and chili powder, with the sweetness of pumpkin to balance it out.

 

For breakfast: Pumpkin, Pancetta, and Potato Hash. This simple dish has promise of being well-balanced with salty, sweet and savory. You can use whatever type of squash you want.

 

In a soup: Autumn Beef Stew: I love adding squash to beef stew in the fall. It adds a delicious, sweet element.

 

For the kid in all of us: Delicata Squash “Fries”. Because everything is better in “fry” form. These baked “fries” were a favorite of my first daughter when she was a toddler. Joel and I have always enjoyed them too.

 

Do you have any favorite winter squash recipes to share?

 

Related on MNN: Savory Winter Squash Souffle