Every season I find myself completely over the moon excited about one or two of the seasons best produce. Ok, if I’m being honest it’s typically more like five or six.
My kitchen table is over-run with Delicata squash. I can’t help myself. Everytime I’m at the market I think I need just one more Delicata… you know, just in case. Delicata have a slightly sweet, buttery taste that resembles a sweet potato… just a bit. Yum!
So now I’ve got to find multiple uses for my beautiful fall squash. Besides taking lots of pictures.
I love Delicata in stews or soups, roasted with big pieces of juicy chicken, stir fried with an assortment of other fall veggies and most of all I just love them simply roasted with a little Five Spice Powder and brown sugar.
Delicata are easy to prepare and make the most delicious side dish. Or, if you’re like me, I just eat them off the roasting pan while I’m making dinner. 🙂
Five Spice Roasted Delicata Squash
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 ½ – 2 lbs Delicata Squash
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons Five Spice Powder
2 tablespoons veggie oil or grapeseed oil
Salt and Pepper
Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
Mix together the brown sugar, five spice powder and oil until the brown sugar is mostly dissolved.
Wash the squash and then slice about ½ inch of each end. Slice down the center vertically and clean out the seeds in the squash with a spoon or small ice cream scoop.
Then slice the squash to make little half moons.
Put the slices in a bowl and toss with the Five Spice Powder, brown sugar and oil.
Layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Sprinkle with a little salt and black pepper.
Roast on 400F for about 20-30 minutes or until nice and fork tender.
This little dish can be served piping hot or at room temp. Leftovers store easily in the frig for about 3 days. Great for midnight snacking!
Sounds yummy! Where should I look for Five Spice Powder? Is it, and this kind of squash, available at most grocery stores?
Jodi, I can find Five Spice Powder in the spice aisle at most grocery stores. The delicata is becoming more popular and can be found at most grocery stores, but in our area I can always find it at PCC Natural Markets or Whole Foods. Enjoy!
I’m so glad I found your blog. My CSA put at delicata squash in my box this week, and I’ve been puzzled as to how to cook it or what it even tastes like. Thank you for sharing about these. I’m really excited to cook it now. And I see you’re in Seattle. Me too! 🙂
Thanks Eryka! Love your blog… and I am in love with all things Paleo too! For health reasons actually, I try to stick to a mostly (try is the operative word!) paleo diet. But I love my food so sometimes its hard. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Karista – I am adding to the choir of hoorahs for this post/recipe. I think it sounds AMAzing and I can’t wait to try it. I have had a jar of 5 Spice in my cupboard for about 10 years because I bought if for a recipe and never knew what to do with it afterward. You prompted me to finally throw it out and I’m going to be buying a fresh jar (maybe even order it from my fav Spice Market on Western below the Pike Place Market – have you ever been there? Awesome!! But you will come out smelling like you rolled around in all their spices – hair, skin, clothes – lol!) and pick up the delicata this weekend. Can’t wait to try it! I bet the brown sugar/5 spice combo also tastes good with pan seared brussel sprouts. Yum!! Thanks again for sharing this…you are my favorite Paleo/GF/Teaching Chef!
Alicia! Thank you so much for your kind words! And I love that little spice market… isn’t it Tony Hill’s? Can’t remember, but it’s divine I agree. Enjoy the five spice delicata. And for a quick dinner, I like to dust very thin chicken cutlets in five spice and pan sear. Top with sliced cooked apples and a pat of butter… and a splash of brandy if you’ve got it in the cabinet. 🙂
I have enjoyed catching up with your posts now that I’m back from Europe. This squash is so simple…I love five spice. I’m going to try the shrimp cakes as well.
Karen! I’ve been missing your posts and thought you might be traveling. Can’t wait to read all about it! Enjoy the squash and shrimp cakes 🙂 (and welcome back!)
I, too, love delicata squash. I just picked up my first (and last) at the farmers market on Wednesday. I like to toss them in a salad after roasting although the idea of a midnight snack is sounding really tempting! 🙂
Mmmm… love them in salads too! They’re one of those veggies that taste great cold or warm. Sweet potatoes is another midnight snack fave. Don’t get me started!
Delicata Squash are easily my favorite squash! I usually just bake them plain because they are so damn good but the 5 spice sounds really interesting with them!
I so agree with you, the Delicata are fabulous all on their own. I had this new bottle of organic Five Spice and was dying to use it on something other than chicken. So Delicata squash it was and we’ve been eating that way ever since. Hahaha!
My father-in-law has been growing these for years and we always enjoy them in the fall. I think our favorite method is just to peel, slice, and fry in butter. This sounds like a nice twist, so I may have to give it a go when we start getting our squash!
Oh, fry in butter. That sounds grand! I can eat my weight in these little lovelies. Thanks for commenting!