How to Cook Acorn Squash
How to Cook Acorn Squash
If you’re wondering how to Cook Acorn Squash, this simple recipe is delicious! A whole acorn squash is roasted with butter, sugar and rosemary, making it a flavourful and easy side dish.
Let’s talk squash. It seems as though when it comes to squash people are either in the ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ camp…there’s just no in between. But I think the reason people think they don’t like squash is because of the way it’s been cooked. Convert a squash-hater with this delicious and easy recipe for roasted squash…it’s the butter, sugar and rosemary that really make this dish!
What is acorn squash?
Have you ever tried acorn squash? It’s always a staple here during the fall and winter months. Acorn squash is a small winter squash that looks like a large acorn. It has a dark green skin (sometimes it’s mottled with orange), and a soft orange flesh. When roasted acorn squash tastes sweet with a soft nutty, buttery flavour, which makes it wonderful as a side dish or addition to soups. When it’s puréed it’s creamy, sweet and delicious!
About this recipe.
This recipe is for a whole acorn squash, that’s then cut in half and roasted with butter, brown sugar and rosemary. After a couple of hours of roasting time, the squash becomes rich and flavourful. This roasting method is a great way to use up a whole squash (in fact you can use this method for many different squashes and pumpkins). Not only is roasting squash delicious…it’s easy too. Don’t waste your time peeling and cutting raw squash, roast it in halves. Trust me, you’ll never boil squash again.
Recipe Tips
- SQUASH: Use whole acorn squash, cut in half. Use a sharp knife because the dark green skin of acorn squash is hard.
- ROSEMARY: You can use fresh or dried rosemary. And if you don’t care for rosemary, you can also leave it out.
- BROWN SUGAR: You can also use pure maple syrup instead of brown sugar.
- BUTTER: I like to use salted butter. You can also use olive oil or a mixture of olive oil and butter.
- BAKING DISH: Use an oven safe baking dish, baking sheet or small sheet pan. Something that is large enough to fit the squash halves comfortably, and small enough to be able to cover the bottom of the pan with some water.
- FLAVOUR OPTIONS: If you want to add different herbs and spices feel free! You can use any of your favourite fresh herbs, add a little pinch of cinnamon or chili powder. If you like garlic, add some garlic powder.
- LEFTOVERS: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What to do with puréed acorn squash?
- Serve it as a side dish on your Thanksgiving dinner table, or for any fall dinner.
- Use it to make acorn squash soup (I use this Pumpkin Soup recipe and substitute the pumpkin for acorn squash).
- Stir it into soups and stews.
How to Cook Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- 1 acorn squash
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp packed brown sugar
- 2 tsp fresh rosemary leaves
- salt and fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Wash and dry the squash, then place it on a cutting board, then use a sharp knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise (from the top of the squash down). Scrape out the seeds and stringy pulp.
- Place the halves into a baking dish or baking sheet, with the cut side up (flat side up like in the pictures), then add some water to the bottom of the pan (about 1 cup, enough water to cover the bottom of the pan).
- To the hollow center of each squash half, add 2 tbsp of butter, 1 tbsp of brown sugar and 1 tsp of rosemary.
- Cover the squash halves in tin foil.
- Bake for about 2 hours. Some squash cooks longer than others, depending on the density of the squash. Just check them at the 1 hour mark to see if the flesh is soft and roasted.
- After the squash is done roasting, use a spoon to scoop out the cooked flesh of the squash, and transfer it to a bowl. Make sure to scoop out the butter and sugar mixture with the squash!
- Use a mixer or hand blender to purée the squash (make sure to get the melted butter, sugar and rosemary in there) and enjoy as a side dish.
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes:
- Roasted Brown Sugar & Rosemary Squash Wedges:This is another great way to roast acorn squashes. This recipe is for squash slices that you serve in thick slices which have been roasted in butter and sugar.
- Wild Rice Stuffing
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Slow Cooker Roasted Beets
- Festive Onion Casserole
- Parsnip Puree
I hope you enjoy this easy acorn squash recipe as much as we do! Have a delicious day!
