Your Official 2015 Gourd Guide (With Recipes!)

Now that fall has arrived, if you’re fixated on all things pumpkin, you’re not alone. But don’t let the pumpkin spice hype stop you from embracing other autumnal gourds. From the subtly nutty to mildly sweet, there’s a gourd for every taste and recipe. Here are six varieties to watch out for on your next supermarket trip:

Acorn Squash

Characteristics: Small, round, and acorn-like with a green and orange rind

Flavor: Mild and subtly nutty

How to cook it: Halved, deseeded, and stuffed with kale and sausage

Butternut Squash

Characteristics: Oblong, pear-shaped with a cream-colored exterior

Flavor: Sweet and smooth

How to cook it: Diced and tossed in your favorite Thai curry

Delicata Squash

Characteristics: Long and light yellow/cream with dark green stripes

Flavor: Creamy and mildly sweet

How to cook it: Cooked until tender in a tart-sweet glaze

Kabocha

Characteristics: Squat and forest green with white vertical stripes

Flavor: Sweet and nutty

How to cook it: Roasted in wedges and tossed in an assortment of savory spices

Sugar Pumpkin

Characteristics: Perfectly orange and round; the most traditional “pumpkin-looking” of the bunch

Flavor: Rich and sweet

How to cook it: In a homemade pie, of course

Spaghetti Squash

Characteristics: Light yellow and oval-shaped

Flavor: Mild

How to cook it: Prepared like any other spaghetti or noodle dish — with plenty of tomato sauce

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