Fall is the season for winter squash, a family of powerhouse vegetables that are tasty and nutritious. One cup of cooked winter squash has around 80 calories but contains over 200% of the recommended daily value (DV) of vitamin A and a third of the DV for vitamin C. They’re versatility allows them to be the focus of the meal or a simple side dish.

What are your favorite winter squash recipes?

This is one of my favorites. I use whole wheat rigatoni for twice the fiber.

* Exported from MasterCook *

Rigatoni with Butternut Squash and Turkey Bacon

Serving Size : 4

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
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1 3/4 pounds butternut squash
2 teaspoons olive oil
12 ounces rigatoni
6 ounces turkey bacon -- cut into pieces
1 small onion -- halved and thinly sliced
8 whole fresh sage leaves, torn into pieces
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces asiago Cheese -- shredded

Preheat oven to 450F. Peel, seed, and dice squash into 1/2" cubes. Toss with olive oil, spread on a baking sheet, and roast for about 15 minutes, turning once, until soft.

Cook rigatoni, drain, reserving 1 cup water.

Saute turkey bacon in a pan coated with cooking spray until it begins to brown. Add onion, stir for one minute, then add sage leaves, red pepper flakes, and s & p. Cook for 3 minutes. Add squash, rigatoni, and reserved pasta cooking water and cook over medium heat, stirring gently, for 3 minutes. Stir in cheese until it melts.


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Per serving: 601 Calories (kcal); 18g Total Fat (7g saturated); (25% calories from fat); 26g Protein; 87g Carbohydrate; 57mg Cholesterol; 833mg Sodium; 5g fiber
Food Exchanges: 5 1/2 Grain(Starch); 2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 3 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates

I like to peel a butternut squash and chop it into big chunks around 1 1/2 inch squares. I put the chunks on a baking sheet lined with parchment. I make just a small amount of brown sugar mixed with ancho chile powder and sprinkle that over the chunks. I dust with some kosher salt and pepper. I spray with olive oil and put it in a 400 degree oven until the chunks are tender.