Stuffed Delicata Squash; change can happen

Delicata is our new favorite squash.

Well, it’s our new favorite of the short-term squash. They only keep a few weeks, unlike the butternut, spaghetti and crown prince squashes…. or pumpkins.

They storage time is more like an acorn squash, which used to be our favorite.

The delicata cook more quickly and are very sweet and moist unlike the acorns which can be a bit dry.

Most of the 20 delicata squashes are perfect for a vegetable for 2 people, although a few are quite small (for a first course?) and one was a bit large…. So I stuffed it for a main course.

Serve a bit of Basmati rice on the side if you like.

Click here to Pin Stuffed Delicata Squash

Stuffed Delicata Squash

Print Recipe

This is an easy filling that could be used for an acorn squash or a small butternut squash

• Author: Katie Zeller
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x
• Category: Winter Vegetables

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 large delicata squash, or 2 small, cut in half, seeds removed
• 10oz (300gr) ham, cut into cubes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 8 – 10 fresh sage leaves 
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 3/4 cup (6oz, 180ml) white wine (substitute chicken stock)
• 1 1/2 tbs Dijon mustard
• 1 tbs cornstarch (corn flour, maizena) dissolved in 2 tbs water

Instructions

• Place squash halves cut side down in a baking dish and bake in 400F (200C) oven for 30 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat.
• Sauté the onion for 10 minutes or until tender.
• Add ham, sage and sauté until ham starts to brown.
• Add mustard, white wine, heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
• Stir in cornstarch, a little at a time.  (You may not need it all). Keep warm until needed.
• When squash are ready remove from wherever they cooked and fill with the ham mixture.
• Bake uncovered for 10 minutes, until heated through.

Notes

The filling is made while the squash bakes. Once filled the squash just need to be in the oven long enough to re-heat and blend flavors.

Keywords: Delicata Squash, stuffed squash

A Finnish / Swedish friend told me this story a few years ago. Yes, it’s true.

You are probably aware that, while the majority of the world drives on the right side of the road in vehicles with the steering wheel on the left, there are quite a few people in quite a few countries that do the opposite. Great Britain is the one that most people think of, as well as Australia, New Zealand, India and many African countries

But did you know that in Sweden the driving was originally on the left?

Strangely, they mostly drove cars with the steering on the left, too.

Their immediate neighbors, Norway and Finland, drove on the right.

Sweden decided to change. They thought the change, steering on the left, driving on the right, could reduce accidents. (Rather than steering on the left, driving on the left.)

All of the road signs had to be moved and / or changed, traffic lights had to be moved, intersections re-done, passing and turning lanes repainted, bus stops moved, motorway signs moved, etc.

It was a massive undertaking.

As you can imagine, it couldn’t be done in increments. (Today the trucks will drive on the right and tomorrow the cars will start to drive on the right,,,, doesn’t work).

There was a huge campaign telling the public when and how this was all going to happen on ‘Dagan H’ (H Day, H standing for a very long Swedish word)

On Sunday, Sept.3, 1967 at 4:50 am all traffic was instructed to come to a halt. They were to, very slowly and carefully move, from the left lane to the right lane.

At 5:00 am Sept. 3 it was announced that driving was now to be done on the right and life resumed.

Traffic accidents were, in fact reduced. As to whether it was the new driving routine or just everyone being extra careful while they adjusted, no one knows.

Why am I telling you this story?

To remind you that, with effort, cooperation and determination, even the seemingly impossible can be changed…..

Thought you’d like to know….