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8 Super Squash Recipes

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Award-Winning Chef, Restaurateur & Author

Award-Winning Chef, Restaurateur & Author
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Broken down into two categories (summer squashes and winter squashes) the most popular squashes and my all-time favorites to cook with are the zucchini, pumpkin, acorn and butternut. While you can find zucchini in markets in most places year-round, allowing you to make everything from breakfast dishes like zucchini and onion frittatas to snacks like zucchini-stuffed crab cakes, the onset of fall marks the beginning of hard squash season.

The pumpkin and cousins acorn and butternut squash are usually inexpensive and easy to cook -- just slice them open (carefully) and place them on a baking sheet in an oven set to 350 degrees with a bit of olive oil drizzled over them for 20-30 minutes or until soft (consult individual recipes for specific instructions). So if you're looking for more uses for that pumpkin besides the usual Halloween carving, here's a list of 8 super squash recipes that I've put together with the help of Food Republic.

What's your favorite squash to cook with?

For more fall recipes, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@MarcusCooks)

8 Super Squash Recipes
Agnolotti Di Zucca(01 of08)
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This stuffed pasta recipe puts seasonal squash (or when not available, store-bought pumpkin puree) to use in a ravioli-like pasta pillow. If you like making pasta, it's a fun dish to try at home, and the squash and toasted sage combine with the cheese for a perfect comfort food dish for fall.Recipe: Agnolotti Di Zucca
Whole Wheat Zucchini Banana Bread(02 of08)
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With no butter or oil or added fat (other than the chocolate chips, which are purely optional and can be substituted with raisins, nuts or any dried fruit of your choice), this quick bread is a wholesome and delicious way to eat your fruits and veggies while enjoying a sweet warm bread during the cold-weather months. Recipe: Whole Wheat Zucchini Banana Bread
Butternut Squash Soup with Quinoa(03 of08)
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This beautiful butternut squash soup is also vegan-friendly. Quinoa is an excellent source of protein and amino acids, and it adds great texture to this creamy (yet creamless), veggie-packed one-bowl meal. Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup with QuinoaPhoto: mcb_smith on Flickr
Cranberry Bean Chili With Winter Squash and Swiss Chard(04 of08)
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This cranberry bean chili with winter squash and Swiss chard is the perfect dish to bring to any fall celebration, and a great healthy alternative to your traditional meat chili. Smoky and spicy from the chipotle chili powder and just barely sweet from the winter squash, this chili is chock full of nutrients. Recipe: Cranberry Bean Chili With Winter Squash and Swiss Chard
Zucchini Fries(05 of08)
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These zucchini fries are a great alternative to French fries. While they use the more spring or summer-season zucchini, the light frying and parmesan cheese make this a warming dish for late fall, and a great side for pastas or veggie burgers made with beans and winter squash!Recipe: Zucchini Fries
Maple-Miso Glazed Tofu With Broccoli and Winter Squash(06 of08)
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Sweet and salty, this recipe is simply Heaven in a bowl! Here this recipe is made with tofu, but it will also go great with chicken, pork or salmon, too. Simply smother your favorite protein with a maple-miso glaze and then stir fry it with some broccoli and winter squash for a perfect warm and hearty Fall dish. Recipe: Maple-Miso Glazed Tofu With Broccoli and Winter Squash
Smoked Duck Breast with Caramelized Squash(07 of08)
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Smoked duck breast pairs wonderfully with seasonal fall and winter ingredients like squash and dark greens. Sliced paper-thin, it's a highlight of a great charcuterie platter, and as a main course (especially when prepared by my good friend Marc Murphy) you may forget chicken breasts ever existed. Recipe: Smoked Duck Breast with Caramelized Squash
Butternut Squash and Sage Soup(08 of08)
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In this soup recipe, we use butternut squash for all lush without any milk or cream. The fried sage and sage-infused butter give it an earthy finish that really makes the whole damn soup irresistible.Recipe: Butternut Squash and Sage SoupPhoto: bookchen on Flickr

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