20 Kabocha Squash Recipes to Make While It’s Still in Season (2024)

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20 Kabocha Squash Recipes to Make While It’s Still in Season (1)

By Katherine Gillen

Published Oct 23, 2019

Butternut is nice and delicata is low-maintenance, but we’re all about kabocha squash these days. Why? Because the winter gourd is beyond creamy, super sweet and you don’t have to peel it. Sure, it’s tasty enough when roasted with olive oil and sea salt—but don’t stop there. Without further ado, here are 20 kabocha squash recipes to make while it’s still in season.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga

1. Roasted Winter Vegetable Platter With Miso Aioli And Romesco Sauce

Don’t let the season stop you from serving crudités. Aran Goyoaga’s version is hearty and autumnal (and that squash-aioli combo is to die for).

Get the recipe

2. Roasted Squash, Caramelized Fig And Feta Salad

Fall salads might be our favorite kind, thanks to all the hearty-yet-healthy toppings. With this easy recipe, everything roasts on one pan—a win-win.

3. Turmeric Ginger Kabocha Squash Soup

She’s creamy, dreamy and ready in 20 minutes (not to mention dairy- and gluten-free).

4. Stuffed Kabocha Squash

Squash bowls are infinitely superior to regular bowls, especially when they’re filled with this vegan and Paleo-friendly roasted vegetable medley.

Aran Goyoaga/Cannelle et Vanille

5. Roasted Squash Salad With White Beans, Bread Crumbs And Preserved Lemon

With all that caramelized squash, you won’t miss the lettuce.

Get the recipe

6. Kabocha And Kale Miso Sesame Soba Salad

Gena Hamshaw’s Asian-inspired noodle salad is satisfying but not too carb-laden, and it keeps really well in the fridge. (Lunch leftovers, anyone?)

7. Skillet Roasted Moroccan Chicken And Olive Tagine

The briny olives and lemon are necessary to offset the sweetness of the squash. Serve it with couscous to soak up all those juices.

20 Kabocha Squash Recipes to Make While It’s Still in Season (9)

Spoon Fork Bacon

8. Kabocha Ravioli With A Toasted Hazelnut Cream Sauce

Cool weather calls for pasta, and lots of it. This dish feels fancy, but is surprisingly simple to make.

Get the recipe

9. Kabocha Squash Buttermilk Pie With A Crème Fraîche Swirl

Considering how sweet and custardy this gluten-free stunner is, you might never go back to pumpkin.

10. Kabocha Squash Lentil Curry

It might not be the prettiest, but it sure is the tastiest. And even though this curry tastes decadently creamy, it comes in at under 400 calories per serving.

11. Kabocha Celery Salad

No wilty, sad salads here. Crisp celery and squash can stand up to any amount of dressing, making this one ideal for packed lunches and make-ahead dinners.

12. Roasted Squash With Burrata, Spicy Hazelnuts And Maple Vinaigrette

This would be a welcome addition to any Thanksgiving spread. And you already know how we feel about burrata.

13. Roasted Kabocha With Wild Mushrooms, Quinoa And Lemon Thyme

You can play with the ingredients here, swapping another grain or rice for the quinoa and mixing up your mushrooms.

14. Gluten-free Kabocha Empanadas With Gruyère And Thyme

It’s going to be tough to eat just one of these flaky, cheesy appetizers. They can be made with traditional all-purpose flour if you don’t need them to be gluten-free.

15. Brussels Sprout And Kabocha Squash Salad

Here’s proof that the best fall salads are sturdy and filling. This one has a Dijon-maple dressing and can be made ahead.

16. Crock-pot Thai Chicken Curry

Kabocha, meet Crock-Pot. This one-and-done dinner requires just ten minutes of prep and uses ingredients you already have in your pantry.

20 Kabocha Squash Recipes to Make While It’s Still in Season (18)

So Much Food

17. Kabocha Sourdough Milk Bread

Milk bread is an impossibly fluffy Japanese specialty, and the addition of kabocha is fitting, since it’s also Japanese in origin. (Plus, that color!)

Get the recipe

18. Kabocha Squash Shakshuka

Breakfast for dinner? Don’t mind if we do. Adding squash to shakshuka is such a good idea that we might add this to our permanent rotation.

20 Kabocha Squash Recipes to Make While It’s Still in Season (20)

So Much Food

19. Thai Curry With Kabocha Squash

We can’t decide which we love more: the tender, sweet chunks of squash or the spicy coconut milk sauce.

Get the recipe

20. Miso Dumpling Soup With Autumn Squash

Shhh…they’re store-bought dumplings, but no one needs to know.

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Katherine Gillen

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

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20 Kabocha Squash Recipes to Make While It’s Still in Season (2024)

FAQs

20 Kabocha Squash Recipes to Make While It’s Still in Season? ›

Kabocha is available all year but is best in late summer and early fall.

Is kabocha squash in season? ›

Kabocha is available all year but is best in late summer and early fall.

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.

Can you freeze kabocha squash? ›

Pumpkins and winter squashes like butternut, acorn, and kabocha will keep for months when stored in a cool, dry place, but sometimes it's helpful to extend their shelf life even more. And the best way to do it is by freezing.

How long does kabocha squash last on the counter? ›

Storing. Once you get your squash home, simply store it on a cool dry place. I usually leave mine right on the counter and it will easily last up to a month (but that will never happen because you are going to be so excited to eat it).

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.

Can you eat seasonal squash? ›

Whatever we or others call these gorgeous winter squash, they're all edible and unique on their own with different levels of sweetness, flavor and texture.

How to tell if kabocha squash is bad? ›

A squash with soft spots and is soft to the touch, is a sign that the squash has gone bad. And if it starts to leak fluid, that's a sure sign that the squash is spoiled. Likewise, if the flesh and seeds of the fruit are mushy and slimy, that's a clear sign that it shouldn't be eaten.

Why is my kabocha squash bitter? ›

Kabocha is grown year-round, but they are best in the late summer to fall months. Just like an avocado or a banana, you want to make sure you're not getting a kabocha squash that is underripe. If you do, it will NOT taste like what I described above. Instead, it will taste bitter and not sweet at all.

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.

Can dogs eat kabocha squash? ›

Before going head-over-heals for kabochas and butternuts, are they safe for dogs? Happily, generally yes! Kabocha and butternut belong to a variety of squash called the Winter Squash. They are lower in carbs and calories compared to sweet potato and yet still has chock full of vitamins and nutrients.

What happens if you don't blanch squash before freezing? ›

Summer squash, like most vegetables, must be blanched before they can be frozen. Blanching stops enzyme actions that can cause loss of flavor, color and texture.

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.

Can you eat kabocha squash raw? ›

Yes, you can eat kabocha squash raw! Toss it in a vinaigrette or marinade and let it sit for 10 minutes to soften. Then it's delicious as an addition to deli-style small plates.

How to tell if kabocha is ripe? ›

The ripe kabocha squash has a very dark color to it. and isn't very shiny. Whereas the younger one that isn't quite ready. has almost no color contrast and is very shiny. Follow these tips and you'll get a delicious, sweet smelling winter squash.

Is kabocha squash a summer squash? ›

Kabocha squash is a small to medium-sized winter squash with a hard, dark green skin and sweet flavor, commonly prepared by simply roasting.

What months are squash in season? ›

Summer squash, despite the name, is generally available year-round; varieties include zucchini, yellow, pattypan and crookneck. Common winter squash, such as butternut and spaghetti, are also available year-round, but other varieties, such as turban and fairytale, typically peak November to December.

Does Trader Joe's have kabocha squash? ›

* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs.

Is kabocha squash better than butternut squash? ›

Which Squash is Better than a Butternut? The kabocha won decisively. The deep orange flesh was creamy, without visible fibers. It had a slightly earthier and richer flavor than the butternut.

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