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Roasted Delicata Squash with Pepita Pesto

Roasted delicata squash with pepita pesto has crispy edges and is studded with bold flavors of curry and cilantro. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but unique enough to make a great holiday table side dish.

  • Author: Leanne Ray, MS, RDN
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

Squash:

  • 1 small to medium delicata squash
  • 1–2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp course sea salt 
  • 1/2 tsp curry powder
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Pepita Pesto:

  • 1/2 cup pepitas (plus more for serving)
  • 1 small bunch cilantro (reserving a few leaves for serving)
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 cloves garlic 
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • pinch of course sea salt
  • 1/4–1/3 cup olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  3. Slice delicata squash into 1/2″ slices (discarding the ends), then slice each ring into a half-moon shape. Remove seeds and discard. 
  4. Toss squash with olive oil in a small bowl. 
  5. In a separate small dish, combine spices. Add spice blend to squash and toss to coat. 
  6. Transfer squash to sheet pan into a single layer. Roast for 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through until browned.
  7. While squash cooks, make the pesto: Add everything to a large wide-mouth mason jar and use a stick blender to fully incorporate all ingredients (start with 1/4 cup oil, adding more as needed). 
  8. Once squash is done cooking, transfer to a serving platter and top with pesto and extra pepitas and cilantro.

Equipment

Notes

  • The equipment section above provides affiliate links to things I use often in my kitchen and love.
  • Feel free to use store-bought pesto if you don’t have time to make it from scratch, although the cilantro/pepita flavors really pair well with the squash so I highly recommend it!

Nutrition

Keywords: roasted delicata squash, homemade cilantro pesto, holiday side dish, gluten-free, dairy-free

Find it online: https://leanneray.com/roasted-delicata-squash-with-pepita-pesto/