Tasty Squash Recipes to try out this fall

Squash Recipes

There is something warm, delicious and downright comforting about a flavorful serving of squash, whether used in soup, pie, or as a side dish. On a cold day you can close your eyes and just imagine the smell of homemade squash with cinnamon and honey, or roasted squash with a pinch of salt, pepper, and garlic. Whether you are yearning for a sweet dish or a salty one, squash is a versatile vegetable that works with an array of flavors.

Squash Types

You may not know this, but there are a lot of different types of squash— far more in fact than what most grocery stores have to offer. There is summer squash, like yellow and green zucchini, and winter squash such as butternut and pumpkin. But did you know about patty pan, spaghetti, acorn, calabaza, delicata, hubbard, and kabocha squash? Each one has a distinctive flavor, shape, coloring, and texture. And all of them, if cooked properly, are scrumptious!

Squash, no matter which one you are interested in, packs quite the punch when it comes to nutrients. Rich in vitamins A, C and B6, squash is incredibly filling, low fat, cholesterol free, and chock full of fiber. In addition, squash can be boiled, fried, sauteed, baked, steamed, and mashed in a whole lot of ways.

How Do I Know Which Squash to Use?

While availability in your locale is probably a determining factor in what squash you choose to cook, there are two other elements to consider. One is what you plan on making (for example, you would not use spaghetti squash, so named because it shreds like the pasta, in a sweet pie) and the other part relates to diet. You see, even though squash is a healthy food overall, some types can be rather high in carbohydrates and natural sugars. 

The Keto Diet and Squash

Before you swear off all squash because of its carb count though, let’s see how squash measures up on the keto diet. The keto diet is a low carb, high fat eating plan that requires your body to rely on its fat stores for energy. In turn, this puts your body into a state of ketosis allowing for maximum fat burning and increased energy levels.

You may be thinking, given how many carbs are in squash, that this food is off limits for those following a ketogenic diet. But oh contraire, that is simply not the case. While there are limits to how much you can eat on this diet, it is important to understand that there is a limit on everything we eat, no matter the diet we follow.
The good news is that summer squash, such as zucchini and yellow squash, as well as spaghetti squash, butternut, and patty pan are all lower than other types of squash when it comes to carbohydrates.

Squash Recipe Ideas

Now that you know that squash is not only good for you but also works with one of the most popular and effective diets around, it is time to get into the kitchen and eat some squash!

Enjoy our recipe ideas so you can relish in the delicious smells of squash as it wafts through your home, on the cold days, when you need it most.

Butternut squash 
* Bake with olive oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
* Puree into liquid form, add cream, soup seasoning, and butter to taste.

Spaghetti Squash
* Scoop out inner strands, mix with marinara sauce, chopped meat, and seasoning,
  return to hollowed out “bowl.”
* Layer strands in a lasagna pan, top with cheese, chopped meat, and shredded         
              mushrooms and zucchini; continue to layer as a you would a “regular” lasagna.

Patty pan squash 
* Roast with olive oil, parmesan, and seasonings
* Boil, mash and use hollowed out patty pan “bowl” as pizza crust.