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Roasted Kabocha Squash

Kabocha Squash are AWESOME! While they're not super easily found, they CAN be found! There's an Asian market in Seattle where I can always find them. I've also spotted them at a variety of Farmer's Markets. While this Cambodian squash is largely considered a winter squash, they can be found year round.

Kabocha are a super discovery for a few reasons:
  • They're on the sweet side, even sweeter than a butternut squash, but with significantly less carbs. With the seeds removed and cut into cubes, a full cup has 7 carbs and 1 gram of fiber, for a total of only 6 net carbs!
  • The flavor is spectacular. Imagine a smooth and creamy cross between a pumpkin, sweet potato and a russet potato. It's like some kind of gift from the low-carb gods!
  • They're a manageable size and the rind is completely edible! It's not like a pumpkin or butternut squash, where the peel must be removed. These are totally edible! (that said, I do peel them, from time to time)
The kabocha in this recipe is cut in half, the seeds were scooped out, then I cut wedges. From there, I tossed the wedges in bacon fat, erythritol, bacon bits and spices. These have a dense and smoky taste, with a bit of sweet and some complex spice.

Perfect.

Note: This method can be applied to many winter squash, but the carb counts will likely go up and the rind may not be edible, but for those with higher tolerances to carbs ... go for it!

Nutrition Note: Kabocha info is based off of 4 cups of kabocha cubes, for 1/2 cup per person. Nutrition info is not in USDA database. It is an educated guess, but one which is close and honorably presented.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 131.5025kcal
Author: DJ Foodie

Ingredients

  • 1 small (2 to 3 lb.) kabocha squash (substitution = acorn buttercup, delicata, pumpkin)
  • 1/2 cup real bacon bits
  • 1/4 cup bacon fat butter or ghee, melted
  • 1/4 cup erythritol granular
  • 1 tsp cinnamon ground
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper ground
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg ground
  • salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 400 F.
  • Wash your kabocha well. It's been sitting in the dirt and has been handled by a variety of random people. You're going to be eating the rind, so you want a nice clean squash.
  • Cut the squash in half, by cutting through the top of the stem. Then, cut the two stem halves out. With a metal spoon, scrape out the seeds. Now cut each half into half, and then half again. When you're done, you should have 8 nice wedges.
  • In a large bowl, combine warm bacon fat, melted butter or ghee, with your spices, sweetener and bacon bits. Add your kabocha wedges with a nice dusting of salt and pepper. Mix well, so that the squash is evenly coated with the spices.
  • Place the squash on a baking tray. If you can, stand them up so that they each form a small bowl in the middle. Accumulate any extra spiced bacon bits in the bowl of the squash. This will bake and render out a bit more fat, which will bake deep into the center of the squash, for an even more decadent yum.
  • Bake at 400 F for about 25 to 30 minutes. The squash will brown on the edges, but stay incredible soft and smooth in the center. Serve!

Nutrition

Serving: 8g | Calories: 131.5025kcal | Carbohydrates: 10.11625g | Protein: 3.575g | Fat: 8.31125g | Fiber: 0.76125g