Sweet and savory roasted acorn squash with maple pecan filling, perfect for fall dinners or holiday meals.
Author:Caroline Jones
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:50 minutes
Total Time:1 hour
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Side Dish
Method:Roasting
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
2 acorn squash, halved and seeds removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and black pepper, to taste
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped pecans (plus extra halves for topping)
1/4 cup brown sugar
Fresh sage leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush acorn squash halves with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side up on a baking sheet. Roast for 30 minutes.
In a bowl, combine melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and chopped pecans.
After 30 minutes, spoon the pecan-maple mixture into the roasted squash centers. Add pecan halves on top.
Return to oven and bake another 15-20 minutes, until the squash is tender and filling is bubbling.
Let squash cool slightly. Garnish with fresh sage leaves if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
For a crunchier texture, toast the pecans before adding them to the filling.
Adjust sweetness by reducing or increasing maple syrup and brown sugar to taste.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.