by Emily
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Acorn squash easy-baked with a brown sugar and mustard glaze. Simple, tasty and nutritious. This recipe just screams autumn!
I fully admit that around this time of year I go a little squash crazy (examples:mashedwith mascarpone, curried in soup, curried in another soup, in pastawith bacon, in farrosalad). I tend to focus my obsession on the butternut variety (it’sjustasking for it. I mean look at those curves!) but I haveplenty of madnessleft for my other favorites like delicata, kabocha and the wonderful acorn.
What I love about acorn squash in particular is that it’s very mildly flavored and extremely easy to cook. You could basically whack it in half, rub the fleshwith a little olive oil, salt and pepper and simply roast it and it would be delicious.
Ilike to go one step further and give it a bit of a glaze.The sweetness of brown sugar (or maple syrup) pairs extremely well with squash and you’ll find it in a lot of recipes, including this one.But on it’s own I find the sweetness can be a little one note so I like to cutit with some savory flavors like garlic and a bit of Dijon mustard. The sweetness still comes through, it’s just a bit more interesting.
This recipe isone of the most delicious and easiest Thanksgiving side dishes we’ve ever madebut wealso make it all the time, just fordinner with a big salad, roast chicken or pork chops. It takes a little while in the oven but the prep takes just a few minutes. Once it’s roasting, you can pretty much forget about it (no turning, checking, basting).
It’s actually really hard to overcook. It will just keep getting more brown and caramelized until you pull it out. You can undercook it though so make sure to leave enough time.
Honestly the hardest part of making this recipe is cutting open the squash. It can actually be quite difficult but use a very sharp chef’s knife and take your time. I find it easiest to press the tip of the knife in and then pivot down to make a long slit, repeating as needed.
When you first pull it out of the oven, you’ll notice a pool of delicious molten brown butter/sugar saucein the well. You can serve it while it’s still liquid or set it aside and wait about 30 minutes untilthe squash absorbs it. Either way, it’s fantastic.
Nerd Tips:
- For the standard green variety,choose a squashwith a dull green rind; if it’sturned orange it will have tough and fibrous flesh.
- The glazed squash can be made several hours or even a day ahead. Pop them back in a 325ºF / 260ºC oven for 10-15 minutes until hot.
- These are great stuffed with wild rice and sautéed vegetables for a more substantial vegetarian entree.
- This glaze is very similar to our all time favorite chicken dish,Maple-Mustard Baked Chicken Thighs.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time1 hour hr
Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course: American, Thanksgiving sides
Servings: 4 -6
Author: Emily Clifton - Nerds with Knives
Ingredients
- 2 medium acorn squash
- 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon dijon mustard smooth
- 2 large garlic cloves minced or grated
- a few sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary optional
- Coarse kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Prepare a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
In a small bowl, mix together butter, brown sugar, mustard, garlic, thyme (if using), and a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
Using a sharp, sturdy chef's knife, carefully cut the acorn squash in half, from stem to tip. (I find it easiest to press the tip of the knife in and then pivot down to make a long slit, repeating as needed). Scrape out the seeds and stringy bits inside each squash half using a spoon, until the inside is smooth.
Using a sharp paring knife, score the insides of the acorn squash halves in a cross-hatch pattern, about a half-inch deep cuts (alternately, you could poke some holes all over with a fork). If the halves wobble or don’t sit evenly, shave a small part of the very bottom off with a sharp knife. Place the squash halves cut side up on the prepared baking sheet. Split the butter mixture evenly between the 4 halves and rub it around with the back of a spoon, including the rim.
Place in oven and after 45 minutes, scatter a thyme sprig or two over each half (if using). Bake for another 15-25 minutes until nicely browned around the edges (60-75 minutes, total). The flesh should be very soft and cooked through when you poke it with a fork.
Remove the tray from the oven and let cool for a bit before serving. There will be a delicious buttery sauce in the well which will soak in as the squash sits. If you want to cut it into wedges or slices, cook it at least 30 minutes ahead and slice when the sauce has been absorbed.
Tried this recipe?Mention @NerdsWithKnives or tag #nerdswithknives!
