. . . and Sweet Dumpling
What is Delicata Squash?
Weighing in at less than a pound, delicata and sweet dumpling squashes are both petite squashes with very similar coloration – cream with dappled green stripes – and are closely related. Delicata squash are shaped like a fat cucumber, while dumplings are a small acorn shape. ‘Carnival’ is a hybrid cultivar similar in look to Sweet Dumpling but a little bigger and with a festive look: some bright orange mixed in with the green. Both are of the Cucurbita pepo species. If you don’t grow them, you can find these in a well-stocked grocery store and at your local farmers market, but more likely in autumn than year round.
How to Cook Delicata Squash
Like acorn squashes, delicata squashes are great sliced with the skin on and roasted on a sheet pan. Here’s my master recipe for this preparation. I call it a “master recipe” because you can add spices or other vegetables to the pan, or use the resulting roasted squash as one element a more complex dish. The toddlers in my family will choose this snack over everything else on their dinner plate. See our roasted squash slices master recipe for a quick and easy walkthrough to give you confidence with this technique.
Can You Grow Delicata Squash Vertically?
As some of the smallest winter squashes, these types are good choices to grow on a trellis, which is desirable to many people with small yards, limited sunny spots, or attempting a patio garden. Because the fruits are relatively light, you won’t need to find special ways to support them as they ripen and bulk up. Check out my gardening tips section to learn more about growing squash.