What To Make With What’s On Sale: Winter Squash

It finally feels like winter!  This week at Sprouts, winter squash (butternut, acorn, and spaghetti varieties) is on sale for $0.49/lb.

When choosing winter squash, look for firmness and heaviness for size.  Also, winter quash should have dull, not glossy, rinds.  The rind should be hard as soft rinds may indicate that the squash too watery and lacks flavor.

Winter squash has a natural sweetness and is full of important nutrients, including cancer-fighting carotenoids like beta-carotene.  Winter squash varieties can be prepared in many different ways.  Here are some ideas!

Butternut Squash:

This Squash & Quinoa Pie is a family favorite of ours.  The ingredient list is short, but the dish is full of flavor.  (If you’re new to quinoa, this is a great way to try it!)

Butternut Squash Soup with Chipotle Cream is sure to warm you up on a cold evening.  It calls for two teaspoons of chipotle chiles in adobo — if you don’t want it too spicy, try using just one teaspoon.

Roasting squash enhances its sweetness, and this Oven-Roasted Squash with Garlic & Parsley uses olive oil and simple seasonings to complement the flavor of the squash.

Acorn Squash:

Here’s another roasting recipe: Martha Stewart’s Glazed Squash, which calls for acorn squash but would work well with butternut also.

This Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash looks like it would be a filling main course.  The squash is stuffed with a mixture of sausage, chopped veggies, beans, tomatoes, and spices, and topped with cheese.

Spaghetti Squash:

The Pioneer Woman uses an interesting combination of ingredients in her Spaghetti Squash with Maple Syrup and Shallots.  It’s easy to make and surprisingly tasty.

Spaghetti Squash with Marinara is another simple but flavorful dish.  Spaghetti squash is a great lower-carb substitute in many pasta dishes!

Which type of winter squash do you typically buy?  What’s your favorite way to prepare it?

Be sure to check out the What To Make With What’s On Sale archives for more meal-planning ideas!