By Ainsley Fleming-Wood
The leaves are turning, the air is getting chilly, and sweaters are coming out of storage! Fall is here, and that means squash is here too. I don’t know about you, but squash season is my favorite time of year; spaghetti squash, honeynut squash, delicata squash, acorn squash, and so many more varieties are at our fingertips. I am happy to report that over the past couple weeks my apartment constantly smells like squash, apples, and autumn spices.
You may be wondering, how do I cook squash? There are so many varieties, and they are all so unique. Is there a universal method for perfectly soft and golden squash, or does it depend on the recipe?
Lucky for you, preparing squash is actually much easier than you may think. One method for roasting squash is to cut off the ends, slice the entire thing in half, scrape out the seeds, and bake it face down with olive oil and spices. Most squash, depending on the texture and size, will be perfectly cooked at 400ºF for around 40 minutes if done with this method.
Another easy way to prepare squash in the oven is to dice it into large cubes, coat it with olive oil and spices, and place it on a baking tray at 400ºF for around 25-35 minutes, or until golden brown. This method is so easy, and all it requires is an oven, a knife, and a baking tray.
Finally, if you don’t have access to an oven, it is quite simple to steam a squash in the microwave. In this method, all you need to do is score the outside of the squash with a knife (or poke a lot of holes in it with a fork), place it in a moist towel (or you can skip this step), and put it in the microwave for around 6 minutes. This can be done with a sweet potato, delicata squash, smaller honeynut or butternut squash, and most other root vegetables. The end result is similar to a baked squash or baked potato.
At Anabel’s Grocery, you can find most of these squash types. Currently, there are many Dilmun Squash (similar to honey nut), honeynut squash, and spaghetti squash. For recipe inspiration, there are a few below for you to check out.
I hope after reading this you are just as excited about squash as I am! Enjoy the coziness of fall, and don’t forget to stop by Anabel’s to pick up some yummy squash.
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