roasted kabocha squash recipe – use real butter (2024)

roasted kabocha squash recipe – use real butter (1) Recipe: roasted kabocha squash

The past few days have involved a lot of cleaning and precious little outside time, but we tell ourselves it is all worth it because we finally updated our refrigerator of 16 years and the crappy stove that came with the house (guessing 21 years old). I consider this a major accomplishment because we’ve had these upgrades on our list for about 10 years… we just hate shopping.


made a clear path for the delivery guys while yuki wonders what’s up

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new refrigerator, new stove

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The old refrigerator went into the basem*nt to increase our cold storage capacity. The old stove was hauled away. Good riddance. But these things never go as smoothly as planned. We planed off 5 millimeters of cabinet siding to get the refrigerator to fit in its cubby and then replaced 20 feet of old copper water line which had been left unused for 13 years. And now that we have a slide-in range rather than a free-standing range, we need a backsplash. I’m going with stainless steel and it will be easily removable so I can scrub the hell out of it. It’s nice to have the kitchen back in place and working better than before! After all of that, we finally got out with the pups for some exercise and fresh air.


little yuki has a new harness because she outgrew her size small harness!

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Thanksgiving is this week and I’ll have a lovely little story to share with you later, but for now I must tell you about kabocha squash. It sounds like kombucha, but it is kabocha, and it is my favorite squash. Kabocha is a Japanese winter squash, also called Japanese Pumpkin, and it has a beautiful sweetness. I love it stewed, in soup, tempura fried, and roasted. You can find it at Asian grocery stores with decent produce sections or at places like Whole Foods or farmers markets. Like many squashes, these are quite hard and a little scary to cut when raw, so do be careful as you would with any similar squash.


to roast: olive oil, salt, pepper, kabocha squash(es)

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The skin on the kabocha squash is edible, which is great! Simply wash the squash before cutting. I like to remove the stem because it’s nearly impossible to cut through when splitting the kabocha in half. A careful shallow cut around the base of the stem with the tip of a paring knife (don’t twist, keep it flat) makes popping the stem off by hand a cinch. Once that’s done, carefully cut the kabocha squash in half and scoop out the guts. I then cut the halves in half to get four quarters and trim the hard corners off. From there, I like to slice my squash into 1-inch thick pieces.


scoop out the guts

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cut into 1-inch thick slices

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Slicing the squash is the hard part. Once that is done, toss the slices with olive oil and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Make sure the seasonings and oil are well-distributed among the squash. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet or baking pan in a single layer. This maximizes the crisp, slightly caramelized surface area of the roasted kabocha squash. Roast the first side, then after about 20 minutes, flip the pieces until the bottoms are nice and golden – about another 15 minutes.


drizzle olive oil over the kabocha

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toss with salt and pepper

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arrange in a single layer

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roast until golden on both sides

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I’m a big fan of butternut squash, acorn squash, sweet potato, delicata squash… But kabocha squash is probably my favorite when you consider flavor, ease of preparation, edible skin, and a creamy texture that I just can’t get enough of. And it’s good for you! So if you are looking for something a little different for your table or simply want to try yet another most excellent squash, I highly recommend kabocha squash. It’s like candy without the added sugar or marshmallows.


so simple to prepare

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and beautifully brilliant

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but most of all, delicious and nutritious

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Roasted Kabocha Squash
[print recipe]

3 lbs. kabocha squash (1 large squash)
1-2 tbsps olive oil
sea salt (about 1 tsp)
black pepper, freshly ground (about 1 tsp)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash the outside of the squash. Carefully remove the stem. I use a paring knife to cut at a shallow angle around the base of the stem then pop the stem off with my fingers. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the squash in half longitudinally (through the stem base). The kabocha squash is hard, like its cousins, so please use caution when taking to it with a knife. Scoop the seeds out with a spoon. Cut the halves in half (to get quarters) and trim the stem/ends from the corners. Slice the quarters into 1-inch thick pieces. Place the slices in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Arrange the slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. I line my baking sheet with foil for ease of clean up. Roast for 20 minutes, then flip the pieces over and continue to roast until lightly browned and fork tender (about 15 minutes for me). Serves 4-6 as a side dish.


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more goodness from the use real butter archives

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roasted kabocha squash recipe – use real butter (20)

November 18th, 2018: 11:59 pm
filed under gluten-free, recipes, roasting, savory, vegetables

roasted kabocha squash recipe – use real butter (2024)

FAQs

Why is my roasted kabocha squash dry? ›

Don't skimp on the oil.

When roasted, different kabocha squash can vary in texture. Some are super-soft and creamy, sort of like a baked sweet potato, while others are a bit more dry and chalky. To prevent these squash from becoming too dry in the oven, make sure to coat them generously with oil.

Why does kabocha pumpkin taste so different? ›

Kabocha vs.

It apparently has less water content than other squashes, which is why it is more starchy. Although the two vegetables have a similar flavor profile and appearance, kabocha adds another dimension to the pumpkin with its chestnut taste.

Do you eat the skin of kabocha squash? ›

The kabocha skin is edible. Many Japanese kabocha recipes such as kabocha tempura and simmered kabocha require it to keep the skin on.

Why is my roasted squash mushy? ›

There could be a few reasons why your roasted butternut squash is turning out soggy: Overcrowding: If you overcrowd the baking sheet with butternut squash pieces, they will release more moisture and steam, making it difficult for them to roast properly.

How do you keep squash moist? ›

Store fresh squash in the refrigerator crisper in plastic storage bags or rigid containers to retain moisture. Stored in this manner, squash will maintain quality for 5-7 days. Avoid storing fresh squash in areas that might freeze.

Can you eat too much kabocha squash? ›

If you eat an excessive amount of kabocha squash, or any yellow or orange fruit or vegetable containing beta carotene, you can develop carotenemia. This is a condition that can cause your skin to appear yellowish or orange. It's harmless, and the cure is simply to cut back on the carotene-containing foods.

Is kabocha healthier than pumpkin? ›

Kabocha squash had higher amounts of vitamins and C than pumpkin, while both showed similar mineral contents except for iron.

How healthy is kabocha squash? ›

Like other winter squash types, kabocha pumpkin is rich in polysaccharides or fiber. It keeps you full for longer and prevents blood sugar from rising quickly. Kabocha squash seeds contain good fats and protein that help maintain blood sugar levels.

Can diabetics eat kabocha squash? ›

Kabocha squash is a low glycemic food.

This is particularly important if you have type 2 diabetes or at risk of developing it. Low-glycemic diets have also been linked to reduced risks for cancer, heart disease, and other conditions,” reports Harvard Health.

Can you eat too much squash? ›

Toxic squash syndrome can result from continuing to eat the bitter fruit. Some of the most rampant symptoms and indicators of toxic squash syndrome include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Toxic squash syndrome can be so severe that it can cause swelling in the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys.

Is kabocha squash hard to digest? ›

Kabocha squash contains fiber and fluid, which help support healthy gut bacteria, bulk up poop, and hydrate the intestines for healthy digestion and bowel movements. To minimize digestive discomfort, gradually introduce high-fiber foods like squash.

How do you know when kabocha squash is done? ›

Test the doneness of kabocha squash in the same way you would test delicata, butternut, or any other hard winter squash. Slide the tip of a thin, sharp knife into the center or thickest portion of the squash. The squash is ready when the knife meets no resistance, and slides easily into the vegetable.

Is kabocha squash supposed to be dry? ›

Kabocha is a hard squash, like most winter squash varieties are, and it has green, slightly bumpy skin, often with light green or white stripes, and dark yellow-orange flesh inside. You'll find that it's a very sweet squash and has a slightly dry texture.

How do you fix dry baked squash? ›

The fat in butter will help bring the squash back to life. Some broth, olive oil, milk, cream, or other (flavorful) liquid will also help. The most important thing is to make sure you're adding at least some fat to the mashed squash, and stir it in as you go.

Why is my cooked squash dry? ›

Most squashes are at their "driest" immediately after harvest... not in terms of their moisture content, but in their cooked consistency. At this point (provided the squash was fully ripe) the starch content is very high, and the cooked texture will resemble mashed potatoes.

Why do my squash dry up? ›

This is usually a direct result of an incorrect water balance in the plant, most often because the soil was allowed to dry out between irrigations and the plant wilted. Plant roots absorb calcium molecules surrounded by water and the plant moves the calcium to where it is needed within growing tissue.

References

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