Acorn squash has a mild flavor and goes well with sweet and nutty seasonings. This makes a nice Thanksgiving side dish, though you might want to cut the baked halves in half again for smaller portions.

Ingredients

  • 2 acorn squash
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons walnut oil
  • Freshly ground nutmeg
  • Ground walnuts
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

      174 calories; 7 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 29 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 7 milligrams sodium

    • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

Makes four large servings or eight medium servings

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the squash on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, until soft enough to easily cut in half. Cut in half, and scoop out the seeds and membranes.
  2. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Stir the maple syrup and walnut oil together in a bowl, then brush over the cut surfaces of the squash. Sprinkle with a very small amount of ground nutmeg. Place in the oven and bake 1 hour, brushing every 10 minutes with more oil and maple syrup. When the squash is tender, brush once more, then spoon a tablespoonful of finely chopped walnuts into each cavity and return to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, until the walnuts are toasty. Remove from the heat. Serve hot or warm.
  • Advance preparation: This can sit for an hour or so after it’s done. Cover with foil. Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.

About 1 hour

Dining and Cooking