Healthy Winter Squash and Pumpkin Recipes and Cooking Tips

Featured Recipes

Maple-Pumpkin Custards with Crystallized Ginger

A Thanksgiving meal wouldn't be complete without pumpkin, and here in Vermont we wouldn't dream of excluding our beloved maple syrup. We've combined the two in these elegant custards, featuring the best part of a pumpkin pie and saving calories for a luscious finish of real whipped cream. If you can find it, use Grade B dark amber syrup to get the best maple flavor.

» Maple-Pumpkin Custards with Crystallized Ginger

Penne with Braised Squash & Greens

This chunky sauce is laced with chard and accented with smoked tofu. Convenient packages of peeled and diced butternut squash are available in most supermarkets in the fall and winter.

» Penne with Braised Squash & Greens

Mashed Maple Squash

Acorn squash makes a sweet substitute for potatoes in this easy mash. Use a serrated grapefruit spoon to get all the seeds and stringy fibers out of the inside of the squash.

» Mashed Maple Squash

Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash

Cumin and chili powder season a filling of turkey sausage, tomatoes, black beans and Swiss cheese for creamy acorn squash. Serve this stuffed squash with warmed corn tortillas for wrapping up bites of all the tasty ingredients.

» Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash

Squash Tea Bread

Pureed winter squash, honey and sugar give this tea bread a round, rich sweetness. It's terrific warm with a little pat of butter for breakfast, snack or even dessert and of course afternoon tea, if you're so inclined.

» Squash Tea Bread

Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

While pumpkin pie deserves respect as a Thanksgiving icon, it's fun to shake up tradition. Surprise your family and friends with a frozen pie this year—it just might become one of their holiday favorites. No need to let them know how easy it is.

» Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Roasted Pumpkin-Apple Soup

Apples add just a hint of sweetness to this velvety pumpkin soup. Try it as a delightful first course for a special meal or for dinner with grilled sharp Cheddar sandwiches.

» Roasted Pumpkin-Apple Soup

Settle in with these healthy winter squash and pumpkin recipes.

From grocery stores to CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), there are hard squash and pumpkins aplenty in the fall, harbingers of the winter ahead. Squash appeals to our instinct to settle in, to create hearty meals that will get us through the coming chill. Store winter squash and pumpkins in a cool spot with good air circulation (not the refrigerator, but a cool pantry or cellar) for up to 1 month. They will nourish you through the winter: one cup of cooked winter squash has few calories (around 80) but is high in both vitamin A (214 percent of the recommended daily value) and vitamin C (33 percent), as well as being a good source of vitamins B6 and K, potassium and folate. So settle in and enjoy these healthy winter squash and pumpkin recipes from EatingWell.