Hello Everyone,
🎃 Day 3: Winter Squash
🍁 Meet Your Veggie
Winter squash comes in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes—butternut, acorn, delicata, kabocha, spaghetti squash, and more.
Today’s adventure: explore the naturally sweet, comforting flavors of one of autumn’s most iconic vegetables.
🎃 Why Explore Winter Squash?
Winter squash provides carotenoids such as beta-carotene, which the body can convert to vitamin A, along with vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Their vibrant orange and yellow colors reflect the variety of plant compounds they contain.
🍁 Day 3 Recipe: Cinnamon-Roasted Delicata Squash
Ingredients
- 1 delicata squash
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- Pinch of sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: 1 tsp maple syrup
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Carefully cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
- Slice into ½-inch half-moons. The skin can remain on delicata squash.
- Toss with olive oil, cinnamon, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Roast for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Drizzle with a little maple syrup before serving, if desired.
🍲 Bonus Recipe: Easy Autumn Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups gluten-free vegetable or chicken broth
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: pumpkin seeds for topping
Directions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook for 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add squash, broth, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until squash is tender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Top with pumpkin seeds if desired.
Admittedly, winter squash may be my favorite autumn vegetable. How about you?
I look forward to seeing you soon,
Abigail