Winter Squash RecipesWinter squash recipes are mildly sweet and filling, full of complex carbohydrates to comfort you in a healthy way. They are in season in late summer and early fall. There's many varieties to choose from: acorn squash, butternut, buttercup, calabaza, delicata, gold nugget, hubbard, pumpkin, spaghetti, kuri, and turban squash. Some squashes are quite sweet and others are bland. Some are easily cut open, others you need a hatchet! All winter squashes are sweeter after the first frost. The cool weather sweetens them up.
My favorites for winter squash recipes are acorn, butternut, delicata and kabocha. The acorn squash is not very sweet. It opens easily, is deep green and looks like a big acorn. It is good for baking. I cut it in half, take out the seeds, stuff the center opening with a mix of cooked rice, raisins, nuts and a bit of water and oil. I bake this at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or so, until the squash is soft. The kabocha is fairly big, sweet and creamy, but it is a challenge to open. I use a pointed knife and stab it, then circle around with the knife. It may take the strength of a husband. Alan usually does this for me. Or you can bake it and then cut it open. The delicata is a smaller squash that looks like a big cucumber and is yellow with orange stripes. It is easy to cut and soft enough to cook in a steam basket with onions or carrots. Serve with a nice sauce. Simple! The butternut is light orange and looks like a big peanut. Its easy to cut open and can be steamed or baked. It is mildly sweet. These squashes contain carotenoids, which give them the deep orange, yellow and red colors. Alpha and beta carotenoids protect the skin and eyes from ultraviolet light damage, lower the risk of heart disease, decrease cataracts and macular degeneration, slow down the aging process, and protect again cancers.
Here are some squash recipesWinter squash recipe: Creamy squash tomato soup 1/4 of a kombucha squash, peeled and coarsely chopped, about 2 cups 1 cup garbanzo beans, cooked 1/4 tsp cardamom 1 1/2 cup tomato sauce or use ripe tomatoes 1 cup water 1/4 tsp sea salt 2-3 cups plain rice milk, unsweetened Cook the squash, beans, and tomatoes in the water for about 30 minutes until the squash is soft. Now add in the rice milk. cardamom and sea salt and cook about 15 minutes. You may wish to puree some of the soup to make it creamy. Winter squash recipe: Squash root stew 1 small butternut squash, cut into chunks. 2 carrots, cut into 1 inch chunks 1 new potato, cut into chunks 2-3 small turnips, cut into chunks 1-2 Tbsp olive oil ginger juice, fresh garlic cloves 1-2 l handful fresh cilantro 1 small scallion, sliced 2 bay leaves pure water Warm up oil in a soup pan and add in squash, carrots, potato, and turnips. Add water to barely cover. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Let cook on simmer for 30 minutes. Then add in cilantro, scallions, ginger juice and garlic, and more water to cover the vegies an inch or so. Cook 10 to 15 minutes until all is tender. You can use a potato masher to mash some of the roots for a creamy soup. Winter squash recipe: Squash butter 1/2 butternut squash, baked for 30 minutes at a 400 degree oven, until soft 1 Tbsp apple juice 1 Tbsp flax oil 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ginger Blend all in blender. Ready to eat as a pudding or spread.
Play with the winter squashes. Try different kinds to find your favorites. Enjoy these winter squash recipes! Food for thought: You are what, how, when, and why you eat" ---Ayurveda saying
Here's more recipe that are yummy in fall and winter. The cukes recipes are in here, too, just for some refreshment! Hummus recipes are a nice snack, with garbanzos, tahini and lemon Fall vegie recipe with cauliflower, squash, apples,and walnuts Pumpkin seeds to go with your winter squash Kale recipes are super healthy Roasted vegies are easy to make |
