Ten Favorite Winter Squash Recipes – Appetizer Salad Soups Sides Mains

Buttercup SquashFeaturing My Favorite Winter Squash – Butternut, Buttercup, Kabocha, Stella Blue, Red Kuri, Delicata and Honeynut

Over the last few days, we had about eight inches of snow on the ground, trees, patio furniture and fence. Fortunately, we planned ahead. We have a large oval cazuela filled with butternut and delicata squash on the kitchen counter. With winter squash at its peak, Union Square Winter Squashnow’s the time to enjoy these Ten Favorite Winter Squash Recipes. Choose from soups, salads, sides, mains and an appetizer. With lots of vegan, gluten and dairy-free options.

Colorful, nutritionally rich winter squash

Whether orange, green, cream, blue or gold, smooth, bumpy, ribbed or striped, winter squash in most every shape and size epitomize the perfect fall and winter vegetable. As they are some of the richest sources of plant-based nutrients important for a strong immune system.

Roasted, of course

Roasted Buttercup SquashConsider winter squash mainstays of the fall and winter kitchen. Enjoy them diced, sliced, wedged or pureed into luxuriously smooth soups. Beautifully and deliciously caramelized when roasted at high temperatures, winter squash need no additional sugar. Although most varieties have difficult to peel skin, smaller varieties such as Delicata and Honeynut require no peeling at all. And, even Master Chef Ottolenghi suggests not peeling butternut squash 😉

Use the squash peel and seeds

Be sure to make a pot of vegetable stock using the peel and seeds from your winter squash for an additional layer of squash flavor in soups and stews. This is a technique you can use almost whenever you make soup. Prepare your own stock with some of the cast-offs from the main ingredients, i.e., corn stock using the cobs for Sweet Corn Chowder; or, leek’s dark green leaves for Country-Style Leek and Potato Soup.

Ten Favorite Winter Squash Recipes for Fall and Winter

  1. Roasted Winter Squash with Ginger Tomatoes and Lime Yogurt
    Complex and boldly flavored Asian and Middle Eastern ingredients make this the most delectable of roasted winter squash recipes. Each bite bursts with bright flavor and color. Gluten and dairy-free.
    Roasted Winter Squash with Ginger Tomatoes Lime Yogurt
  2. Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk, Ginger, Lime
    A bold blend of flavors. Sweet squash, spicy ginger, robust Aleppo pepper, rich coconut milk and bright, fresh lime juice. The light swirl of toasted sesame oil adds an earthy layer to the complexity of flavors. Vegan, dairy and gluten-free.Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk, Ginger, Lime
  3. Best Butternut Squash Soup — Thank you, Master Chef Thomas Keller
    You’ll be amazed at the layers of flavor and velvety texture. It may take a little more time to prepare, but for the Best Butternut Squash Soup, you’re greatly rewarded. Gluten and dairy free.Best Butternut Squash Soup
  4. Tuscan Kale Kabocha Squash and Orange Salad
    Bold flavored winter vegetables make this a hardy, flavorful and satisfying side salad or meal on its own. Just-roasted squash wilts and tenderizes the kale so it loses its chewiness. Vegan, gluten and dairy-free.Tuscan Kale Kabocha Squash and Orange Salad
  5. Curried Winter Squash Red Lentil Soup with Coconut Cream
    Warming, earthy, spicy, aromatic and satisfying. Thick coconut cream from a can of unsweetened coconut milk mellows and marries the flavors, adding depth, richness and deliciousness. Vegan, gluten and dairy-free.Curried Winter Squash Red Lentil Soup
  6. Roasted Honeynut Squash, Toasted Quinoa, Feta, Arugula with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
    Well-flavored, satisfying, colorful entrée, salad or side dish. Freely substitute Honeynut squash with easier to find Delicata squash. Gluten-free.Roasted Honeynut Squash, Quinoa, Feta, Arugula
  7. Winter Squash Spread – Savory, Sweet & Tasty, Too
    Complexity of taste, luxuriously smooth texture, savory-sweet flavor and striking golden hue make this appetizer filling, satisfying and so delicious. Delicious made with any of the sweet-fleshed winter squash. Gluten-free.Winter Squash Spread
  8. Wild Rice with Roasted Butternut Squash, Cranberries, Preserved Lemon
    Serve Wild Rice with Roasted Butternut Squash, Cranberries, Preserved Lemon as a welcome entrée for vegans and vegetarians or as a flavorful side dish for everyone. Or, if you make it in advance and toss it with your favorite vinaigrette, you could serve it as a salad. Vegan, gluten and dairy-free.Wild Rice Squash Cranberries Preserved Lemon
  9. Parsley Scallion Pesto with Roasted Delicata Squash
    Enjoy Parsley Scallion Pesto throughout the fall, winter and spring stirred into soup, tossed with pasta, swirled into hummus. And, most especially with roasted, sweet Delicata or other winter squash. Gluten-free.Roasted Delicata Squash Parsley Scallion Pesto
  10. Roasted Buttercup Squash Soup — Creamy Smooth with Chunks of Roasted Squash A very easy, deeply nurturing soup with great depth of flavor. Luxuriously rich and smooth and chunky. Vegan, gluten and dairy-free.Roasted Buttercup Squash Soup