All tagged Acorn Squash

Creamy Roasted Acorn Squash Soup (Vegan)

Creamy Roasted Acorn Squash is the quintessential cold-weather meal!  It’s savory from the onion, garlic, and veggie broth, and sweet from the carrot, squash, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.  Acorn squash becomes incredibly creamy when blended, and the oat milk adds an extra touch of plant-based creaminess.  Enjoy this soup immediately, or meal prep it for the perfect comforting lunch or easy heat-and-eat dinner.  It will last in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months!

Serves: 6

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

What (your ingredients):

2 acorn squash, sliced in half and seeds removed

2 cups boiling water

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

2 large carrots, sliced into small pieces

¼ teaspoon salt

2 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons flour

3 cups veggie broth

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

½ cup oat milk

How (your directions):

Heat oven to 400°F.

Place acorn squash, cut side down, into a baking dish.  Pour 2 cups boiling water into the baking dish, then roast the squash for 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven or soup pot, heat olive oil over medium-low heat.

Add diced onion, carrots, and salt.  Sauté and stir for 3-4 minutes, until the onion is translucent.

Add finely sliced garlic, ground cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  Sauté for one minute.

Add flour and stir for one minute.

Slowly add veggie broth, stirring continuously as the mixture thickens.

Lower heat to low and simmer until acorn squash is finished roasting, stirring occasionally.

When the squash is done, remove from the oven, and allow to cool for 5 minutes.  Then, using a spoon, scoop out the tender squash flesh and add to the soup.

Using an immersion blender, or carefully adding to a blender, blend the soup until smooth.

Add the coconut sugar and stir until dissolved.  Add the oat milk and stir until combined. 

Serve hot!

Why (the science):  Acorn squash is high in fiber, making this satisfying soup great for digestion and disease prevention. 

Roasted Acorn Squash with Sweet and Spicy Nuts

This recipe is inspired by a dear college friend who made this for me in college- a family recipe used for every Thanksgiving celebration.  Festive and comforting, yet delightfully easy, I love to enjoy this Roasted Acorn Squash for a yummy lunch on the weekends!  Use any candied sweet and spicy nut to make this side or entrée extra special, and be sure to dip each spoonful of squash into the melted butter in the center 😊

Serves: 2

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

What (your ingredients):

1 acorn squash

2 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons sweet and spicy nuts (Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods has a few options)

2 tablespoons dried cranberries

How (your directions):

Preheat oven to 400°F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.

Cut acorn squash in half, remove seeds and stringy flesh from center, then roast on lined baking sheet for 40 minutes.

Once acorn squash has finished roasting, place one half in each bowl.

In the center of each half, add 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons sweet and spicy nuts (I used pecans), and 1 tablespoon cranberries.

Enjoy hot!

Why (the science):  One serving of acorn squash provides 145% of your daily vitamin A needs, which is critical for helping your eyes absorb light and for supporting cell growth in your heart and lungs!

Cinnamon-Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

Sometimes, dinner simply needs to be prepped and on the table in less than 40 minutes.  Start to finish, this elegant quinoa stuffed acorn squash accomplishes that goal, but it will look like you spent hours in the kitchen creating it!  Children are apt to love it, since the flavor profile leans toward sweet, especially with the cinnamon and raisins.  Quinoa is a complete protein, so this filling dish would make a great “Meatless Monday” option.