Kabocha squash combines with bacon, sage, and balsamic glaze to form a delicious winter side dish! Fancy enough for a holiday dinner, but simple enough for a random weeknight as well!

Kabocha Squash Discoveries

They say you find true love when you least expect it. Let me tell you about my first encounter with kabocha squash. It was a day just like any other day… until my life was changed forever. Ha! Sorry for being dramatic, I just love this stuff!   Like usual, I was meandering through Trader Joes in need of approximately three items, but always on the lookout for something new to pique my interest. Enter this ugly green pumpkin thing. I had never even heard of the name, but after examining it I noticed there was a sticker on the side of the squash with a recipe. It involved this sweet mysterious squash, onions, bacon, sage, and balsamic glaze… I was intrigued.

One big bowl of comfort.

After making the recipe I became obsessed with this squash. It was different than anything I’d ever had before, and I needed to discover all its different uses. It turns out I was not the only person who loved this squash, because after buying approximately 10 more, I could no longer find them at any stores. I called around, but apparently they were gone for the season. Then, after a bit of research I discovered that kabocha is quite popular in Japan, and a Japanese supermarket near my gym seems to have them all year. Whew!  I can sleep soundly again.

Notes

This kabocha squash recipe is a great side dish for dinner. It also makes a wonderful breakfast with a few eggs and sautéed kale. It is truly great all of the time, and remains my favorite way to consume kabocha squash. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Notes: Chopping a kabocha squash into cubes is a bit of a challenge and requires some arm strength. Do not be discouraged! I promise it will be worth it. (See recipe notes below for how I cut the squash.)

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Kabocha Squash with Bacon and Sage

Kabocha squash combines with bacon, sage, and balsamic glaze to form a delicious winter side dish!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 6

Author Lindsey

Ingredients

• 1 Kabocha Squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
• 4 slices thick-cut apple smoked bacon
• 2 medium yellow onions, diced (about 3 cups)
• 1 tbsp fresh sage leaves, finely chopped (about 6 leaves)
• 1 3/4 cup chicken broth Divided
• 1 1/2 tsp salt To taste
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• balsamic glaze, for serving

Instructions

1. Seed, peel, and dice the kabocha squash. I cut mine until they're about the size of two small dice.

2. Cut bacon into 1/2" pieces. In a medium-large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 4 minutes. Remove bacon and set aside on paper towel-lined plate. Reserve about 2 tbsp drippings in pan.

3. Add onion to pan and sauté over medium heat about 5 minutes, until mostly soft. Add cubed squash, season with salt and pepper, and stir for two minutes.  Add 1 1/4 cups broth (not all of it!) and leave covered over medium-low heat for approximately 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cubes should be tender but still firm. Add more broth if needed. We want the end result to still have squash cubes, not end up mushy.

4. Remove lid, and stir in bacon and sage. Let cook for approximately three more minutes. Taste to see if more salt and pepper are needed. Top with balsamic glaze right before eating. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Squash sizes vary, so taste to see if more salt and pepper are necessary.

Chopping a kabocha squash: I find it easiest to cut the kabocha into quarters. I cut off one side (not through the stem, since it's difficult to cut), then continue rotating around the squash cutting off the three other sides. Then I scoop out the seeds and strings, and then cut the peel off. (The outside of the squash is edible once cooked, but I think cutting it off is better for this recipe.) Once seeded and peeled, then just cut them into small cubes!

Kabocha squash can be found year-round in most Asian and Middle Eastern supermarkets.

Recipe adapted from the sticker on a kabocha squash sold at Trader Joes.

Be sure to check out this miso roasted kabocha squash or these cozy apple muffins next!