This delicious Maple Roasted Delicata Squash is one of my favorite ways to enjoy Delicata. The buttery maple cinnamon sauce with toasted pecans will have them licking their plates and your house will smell amazing too! Now if you know us you know that David is not a squash fan, at all, and he was asking for seconds of this super easy side dish! If you love this recipe you might like this Ratatouille Niçoise.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Minimal ingredients: With just a few main ingredients plus some spice this Maple Roasted Delicata makes a stunning appearance that is worthy of serving to company or appearing on your holiday table!
Ready in less than half an hour: This beautiful side dish is ready in an half an hour making it perfect for any busy weeknight dinner!
You are boosting your immunity: Did you know that squash is loaded with antioxidants which can boost your immunity and help your body to fight off certain diseases? I love knowing I am feeding my family real food that tastes good and has health benefits as well!
Ingredients You Will Need
Delicata squash: This winter squash is also known as peanut squash. Having a delicate rind and creamy, orange flesh. It is a very sweet variety of squash with a thin, edible skin.
Ghee: Incorporating ghee into this sauce adds a rich, nutty flavor. Ghee is clarified - meaning impurities have been removed, resulting in a pure and clear form of butterfat with lower lactose content than butter. Fourth & Heart ghee is my favorite and you can use PennysPrimal15 for a discount!
Maple syrup: Maple syrup is made from the sap of the maple tree that gets boiled down until most of the water evaporates, leaving a thick, sugary syrup. The syrup is then filtered to remove impurities which results in a deliciosly sweet, natural form of sweetener that has nutritional advantages over refined white sugar.
Pecans: Pecans are a species of hickory native to the Southern United States. Pecans have a distinctly sweet and buttery flavor.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon powder is much finer than ground cinnamon and easier to mix into recipes whereas ground cinnamon has a coarser texture and can add a bit of crunch to dishes.
Thyme: Is a pungent herb that can withstand longer cooking times in stews and soups and adds a depth of flavor. I like to use fresh thyme for this recipe but you can certainly use dried.
Salt and pepper: Salt enhances and balances flavors, while ground black pepper adds a gentle heat, improving the overall flavor of a dish.
Raspberry: Raspberries are low in calories and high in essential nutrients, including vitamin C and K, manganese and dietary fiber.
Instructions
Prepare the squash: Scrub the Delicata, carefully slice in thin rings and remove the seeds.
Heat the oven: Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Make the sauce: Meanwhile, melt the ghee and mix with maple syrup, salt, pepper, cinnamon and thyme.
Get the squash ready for roasting: Place the Delicata on the baking sheet trying not to overlap.
Dress the squash: Brush with the maple syrup mixture (it be thick) but will melt while baking and the squash will soak up all the buttery goodness.
Top with pecans: Add the pecans to the pan.
Roast: Roast for 15 minutes or until the squash is fork tender.
Garnish the squash: Remove from oven and sprinkle with raspberry beadlets, if using for garnishing. This is particularly pretty around the holidays.
Enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Cut the squash thin: Cutting the squash thin allows them to roast much faster and also makes the skin soft and tender.
Microwave the squash: If you are having trouble cutting the squash, pierce the squash carefully with a knife and microwave for a few minutes. This will make it much easier to slice.
Recipe Variations
Butternut squash: You can easily swap butternut for the Delicata or even acorn squash. You may need to roast a little longer.
Butter: If you are not concerned about keeping this recipe Paleo friendly you can use butter in place of the ghee.
Storage Tips
This Maple Roasted Delicata Squash can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days when placed in a sealed airtight glass container.
FAQs About Maple Roasted Delicata Squash
Do you eat the rind of the Delicata squash?
Yes! The skin of the Delicata squash is edible and tender when cooked so there is no need to peel it.
Do you store Delicata squash in the fridge or on the counter?
Winter squash is best stored between 55-65 degrees and should last up to 3 months on the counter. Do not refrigerate.
Can I freeze raw Delicata?
Yes! Spread the pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the freezer. Once completely frozen you can transfer to a freezer safe container.
Maple Roasted Delicata Squash
Ingredients
- 2 Delicata Squash medium sized
- ¼ cup Ghee
- ½ cup Maple Syrup
- 1 cup Pecans Raw, halves
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Thyme fresh, chopped or ½ teaspoon dried
- 4 Raspberry optional for garnish, frozen and crumbled
Instructions
- Scrub the Delicata, carefully slice in thin rings and remove the seeds
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper
- Meanwhile, melt the ghee and mix with maple syrup, salt, pepper, cinnamon and thyme
- Place the Delicata on the baking sheet
- Brush with the maple syrup mixture (it be thick)
- Add the pecans to the pan
- Roast for 15 minutes or until the squash is fork tender
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with raspberry beadlets, if using
- Enjoy!
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