Miso–Garlic Butter Roasted Delicata Squash

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This delicious, gut-friendly side dish is rich in prebiotics to keep your digestive system running smoothly. Delicata squash has a tender, edible skin, so there’s no need to peel it, making it extra convenient while providing an added boost of fiber. Serve alongside roasted chicken or pork.

Active Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4

Perfectly tender and coated with savory umami butter, this Miso–Garlic Butter Roasted Delicata Squash recipe is what cozy fall dinner dreams are made of. Probiotic-filled, umami-forward miso meets up with spicy garlic to create a rich, flavorful butter that coats antioxidant- and fiber-filled delicata squash. Dill adds a hit of freshness, while toasted almonds bring a subtle toasty crunch that balances out the textures and flavors. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to ensure perfectly browned, caramelized squash.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • Only stir the squash once during baking to achieve a nice browned color on the sides.
  • You can mix the squash and miso butter in a bowl using a spatula, but doing it directly on the baking sheet saves you from dirtying another dish.
  • For the best flavor, toast nuts before using in a recipe. To toast the sliced almonds, place in a small dry skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.
  • Use miso butter on anything for a delicious flavor boost! Brush it on grilled chicken, roast potatoes and onions, or stir it into mashed potatoes.

Nutrition Notes

  • As its name suggests, delicata squash is more delicate than the heartier types of winter squash. It has a slightly sweet taste and is high in antioxidants and vitamins A and C. Unlike the hard-to-peel skins on other types of winter squash, you can eat the peel of delicata squash when it’s cooked, since the skin is thinner. Leaving the skin on will also give you more fiber, which will fill you up and keep things moving through your gut. The fiber in delicata squash also acts as a prebiotic, feeding your beneficial gut bacteria.
  • Miso-garlic butter adds an amazing depth of flavor to the squash. Because miso is fermented, it adds some probiotics to the butter. Prebiotics in the garlic and squash provide nutrients that help fuel gut bacteria, which helps it thrive. And while you might think that butter just provides some fat, it also gives you vitamins A, C and K—all essential nutrients. With that said, you still want to eat butter in moderation and include other types of fats, like olive oil, as well.
the ingredients to make the Miso-Garlic Butter Roasted Delicata Squash

Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Breanna Ghazali

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Ingredients

  • 2 small delicata squash

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 tablespoons white miso

  • ½ teaspoon grated garlic

  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice

  • ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted

  • 2 tablespoons loosely packed fresh dill

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425ºF. Trim ends off 2 squash and cut in half lengthwise; scrape and discard seeds from the center of each half. Slice into ½-inch-thick half-moons; transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet.

    a step in making the Miso-Garlic Butter Roasted Delicata Squash

    Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Breanna Ghazali

  2. Whisk 2 tablespoons each melted butter and miso and ½ teaspoon garlic together in a small bowl until thoroughly combined; dollop over the squash and toss with your hands until all sides are evenly coated. Arrange in an even layer. Roast, flipping once, until tender and browned in spots, 15 to 20 minutes.

    a step in making the Miso-Garlic Butter Roasted Delicata Squash

    Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Breanna Ghazali

  3. Drizzle the squash with 2 teaspoons lemon juice; stir gently to coat. Transfer to a platter; top with ¼ cup almonds and 2 tablespoons dill.

    a recipe photo of the Miso-Garlic Butter Roasted Delicata Squash

    Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Breanna Ghazali

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I make this recipe ahead?

    Of course. You can do some prep work to save time, such as making the miso butter and storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks. You can also freeze the butter for a longer shelf life of up to 12 months. The squash can be prepared (sliced and seeded) up to 3 days ahead and stored in the fridge.

  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    If refrigerated in an airtight container, you can enjoy the roasted delicata for at least 3 days. Eat it cold or reheat it—just pop it in the microwave.

  • Can I use any color miso paste I like?

    Absolutely. Generally, the lighter the miso, the milder it is. All-purpose white miso is the mildest and sweetest variety—a good choice for most recipes. Yellow miso is a bit saltier and more acidic, making it excellent for glazes and sauces. Red miso and brown miso have the strongest flavors and thick and grainy consistencies. They’re commonly used in hearty stews with meats and root vegetables.

  • What should I serve with miso delicata squash?

    This is a side dish that begs to be paired with a roasted dinner like our Oven-Roasted Whole Chicken or Crispy Roast Chicken, Oven-Roasted Pork or Herb-Roasted Turkey. It would also be good served with beef burgers, turkey burgers or veggie burgers.

EatingWell.com, October 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

158 Calories
10g Fat
16g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size about 1 cup
Calories 158
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 6g
Added Sugars 0g 0%
Protein 4g 7%
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Vitamin A 418µg
Vitamin C 14mg 16%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 2mg 12%
Folate 34µg
Vitamin K 9µg
Sodium 322mg 14%
Calcium 55mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 40mg 10%
Potassium 409mg 9%
Zinc 1mg 7%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.

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