The 7 Best Delicata Squash Substitutes

Delicata squash is an extraordinarily delicious and nutritious winter squash that is beautiful in appearance and extremely easy to prepare and cook.

The biggest problem we run into is that we can’t find it as easily as other pumpkins.

This is mainly due to seasonality, but also because it is not as well known and is only now becoming more popular. So luckily, we’ve put together a list of great substitutes just in case you find yourself in a similar situation.

So what are the best substitutes for delicata squash?  The best substitutes for delicata squash are butternut, carnival and acorn squash, sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, sugar pumpkins and kabocha squash. All of them have a very sweet and nutty flavor and are cooked in a similar way.

Today we will talk in depth about the characteristics of delicata squash and how to choose a substitute. Then we’ll talk about the best substitutes, how to use them, and why they work so well.

What is delicata squash?

As the name suggests, it is a type of pumpkin found specifically in winter. This squash also goes by many other names that you may be more familiar with, including peanut squash, sweet potato squash, or Bohemian squash.

This winter squash is very easily distinguished by its unique appearance. It is a large, oblong-shaped pumpkin, with cream-colored skin and very marked green or orange stripes that run vertically through the vegetable.

It is, on average, the size of a stick of butter, measuring about 15cm long and 7.5cm wide.

As with any type of fruit and vegetable, there are certain exceptions due to growing conditions and varieties, and some delicata squashes can reach up to 30cm in length.

This pumpkin is becoming very popular because not only the meat can be eaten, but the skin is also quite tasty. The skin itself has another very unique characteristic. It has very soft skin, hence the name delicata.

If you thought it couldn’t get any better, think again! This vegetable is also very nutritious and contains a ton of vitamins B and C, magnesium, manganese and is a fantastic source of fiber.

How do you use Delicata squash?

This pumpkin not only has a very unique color and easy-to-peel skin, but it is also very delicious. It has a sweet taste that sometimes hints at being earthy. Once cooked, it has a very smooth, almost creamy texture that is otherworldly.

Preparing it is also very easy; it is enough to cut it in half, remove the seeds, cut it into slices and cook it. You can easily keep the skin on or peel it off.

We love roasting our delicata squash, but you can use many other cooking methods as well. Steaming this pumpkin will keep all its nutrients and delicious flavors. You can also boil it, blend it into a puree or soup, or even fry chunks.

Some delicious recipe ideas are

• Roasted maple syrup flavored pumpkin, with some pecans and chopped bacon
• Seasoned delicata squash in which you can use a wide variety of spices and herbs
• Crusted and roasted delicata squash bites (you can make a crust with breadcrumbs, or with some nuts)
• Stuffed delicata squash (you can use a variety of fillings, like feta and spinach, or a meatier one like lamb and tzatziki)
• Spiced Delicata Pumpkin Soup
• Pasta with delicate pumpkin sauce
• Roasted Autumn Squash Salad with Arugula, Feta, Mixed Seeds, and a Balsamic Dressing

How to Choose a Delicata Squash Substitute

When choosing a substitute for any ingredient, it is important to break down its original characteristics, and then see what part you want to replace.

If, for example, you want to substitute the flavor, you will obviously choose one that has the most similar sweet flavors.

If you want to substitute their creamy color, do not use orange pumpkins or walnuts. If you want to substitute the easy-to-peel skin, look for a similar vegetable.

When it comes to delicata squash specifically, we prefer to stay within winter squash, or at least the squash family. This category of ingredients has very similar characteristics, so they will all be great substitutes.

The 7 Best Delicata Squash Substitutes

So now that we’ve taken a look at delicata squash specifically, let’s take a look at its many different substitutes. Each of them is unique in its own way and most will work as fantastic flavor substitutes.

1. Butternut Squash

This is our number one recommendation for substituting delicata squash, simply because of its availability and the fact that everyone is familiar with this vegetable.

Butternut squash are large orange squash similar in size to delicata squash. This means that when you see recipes that call for a half squash or a quarter squash, you can easily substitute exactly that.

Butternut squash has a thick orange rind that is difficult to peel and not very appetizing when eaten.

However, once you remove the skin, you get to the juicy orange flesh that also tastes sweet and slightly nutty. Delicata squash is still sweeter, however, but field squash is a close substitute.

If you want to substitute the nutrients in delicata squash, butternut squash certainly has very similar ones. It is also a very good source of fiber and minerals.

You can prepare butternut squash exactly the same way you prepare delicata squash or as the recipe calls for.

2. Carnival Pumpkin

The carnival squash looks very similar to the delicata squash. It is generally much more rounded in shape and quite smaller in size.

These pumpkins have cream-colored skin with green or orange stripes running down their sides.

Sometimes the skin has a more yellowish color, or sometimes a completely green color. However, the stripes remain unmistakably bright and clear.

It has a very tough and dry skin, but once removed it reveals a pale orange center.  When cooked, this squash takes on a very rich buttery texture and a sweet, nutty flavor.

This squash is easier to find compared to delicata squash, depending on where you are. It’s also packed with nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, and a ton of fiber.

3. Sweet potato

We already know that the sweet potato is not a type of pumpkin, but nevertheless they have very similar flavors and colors.

There are different varieties of sweet potato, but we recommend white sweet potatoes or purple sweet potatoes (those with purple skin but white flesh).

Both the skin and the pulp of sweet potatoes are edible and have very sweet flavors. And what makes this another great substitution, especially if you hate a ton of prep, is that the skin is extremely easy to peel.

Sweet potatoes are as easy to find as walnuts and can be prepared just like delicata squash. You may need to slightly adjust the cooking time for the sweet potatoes, as they are smaller compared to butternut squash.

4. Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is one you’ve probably seen before, to say the least. It has a dark green skin with sometimes orange or yellow touches . This skin is also very soft and easy to remove.

Next you get to the beautiful yellow-orange flesh that has very nutty flavors and a slight sweetness to it - definitely a great option if you want to cut down on the sweetness of the dish.

Once cooked, its meat becomes very tender and sometimes slightly dry - keep this in mind when making a recipe as you may need to add more creamy ingredients like butter.

When substituting delicata squash for acorn squash, remember that acorn squash is much larger than delicata squash. So make any necessary adjustments to make sure you still have the right amount.

5. Sugar Gourds

Sugar pumpkins, also commonly called pie pumpkins or sweet pumpkins, are pretty little bright orange pumpkins with a large green or brown stem.

As the name suggests, these pumpkins have a very sweet flavor with subtle hints of nutty. By cooking the yellow meat, it transforms into a very creamy and smooth texture.

You have to remove the thick skin before cooking the flesh itself. You can follow exactly the same cooking methods as you would for delicata squash, but you may need to slightly adjust the amounts for these little squashes.

6. Kabocha squash

Imagine the sugar gourd but with dark green skin and light yellow-green texture. This squash is very popular and, like delicata and butternut squash, has a very sweet flavor profile.

It also has an edible rind, so removing it is optional. The rind closely resembles that of butternut squash, which is very difficult to remove . Microwaving it for a minute or two will help soften it up and make it much easier to remove.

We highly recommend using Kabocha squash as a substitute in soups, stews, or sauces.

7. Spaghetti Squash

Our last substitute today is spaghetti squash. The main reason we have included this squash as a substitute is its sweet taste and availability.

There are many different colors and sizes of spaghetti squash to choose from, so you can get really creative. This squash’s name comes from its cooked texture, which resembles the strings of cooked spaghetti.

The enormous difference in texture means that you can only use this substitute for certain recipes, such as casseroles or casseroles, where it will not be as noticeable. However, with soups, you’ll instantly notice the differences in texture.

Despite the texture, it is a fantastic, delicious and nutritious substitute, which we continue to highly recommend.