Fry

Roasted Delicata with Bacon-Shallots and Pomegranate

by:
November 27, 2012
4
3 Ratings
Photo by Mark Weinberg
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

Each time we go to our favorite Lebanese restaurant, my husband orders the fatteh blameh or seriously considers doing so. He loves the yogurt sauce that's spread over the stew as well as the pluck that sprinkled-on pomegranate arils provides. I don't eat lamb but do love a good yogurt sauce spread over pretty much anything. At the market recently, I saw a perfect delicata squash, so pretty it made me forget how irritating I find peeling and slicing them. Under this amnesiac draw, I bought it and then felt obligated to use it. All in all, this dish came about based on those influences as well as a real love of pomegranate molasses and caramelized shallots. —em-i-lis

Test Kitchen Notes

Delicata squash is one of my favorites. I usually just roast them. This recipe looked very interesting and incorporated ingredients that I really like.

The directions say to peel the squash, but I never do and it turned out fine unpeeled. The squash cooked in the bacon drippings and finished in white wine gave it such subtle a sweet and salty taste.

The yogurt sauce added a cool creaminess and the arils added a bright crunch.

This was really a big hit and I will make again and again. —Annie stader

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Ingredients
  • For the roasted squash
  • 1.5 pounds Delicata squash
  • 3 strips bacon
  • 2 ounces shallot, slivered
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for sprinkling on squash
  • 1 dash cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons white wine
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • For the yogurt sauce and finishing the squash
  • 1 5.3 oz container Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 teaspoon well-stirred tahini
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon, divided, pomegranate molasses, divided
  • 1 dash cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate arils
  • 1-2 scallions, coarsely chopped
Directions
  1. For the roasted squash
  2. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare the squash by slicing it into rings and seeding, and then sprinkle each ring generously with salt.
  3. In a 12 inch skillet with a lid, set over medium-high heat, fry your bacon until it's cooked. Remove and place on a paper-lined plate and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings. When the bacon is cool, crumble it and reserve.
  4. Return the skillet with the drippings to medium heat, then add the slivered shallots, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and dash of cinnamon. Stir and cook for a few minutes until the shallots have softened. Add the white wine, stir, and after a minute or so, add the chicken broth and squash rings. Grind fresh pepper over everything. Cover the skillet and put into oven for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, make your yogurt sauce.
  1. For the yogurt sauce and finishing the squash
  2. In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, tahini, salt, 2 teaspoons of pomegranate molasses, and the cinnamon. Set aside to let the flavors come together a bit.
  3. When the squash has cooked for 20 minutes, carefully remove the skillet from the oven, remove the lid, and stir in the remaining tablespoon of pomegranate molasses. Return the skillet (without the lid) to the oven and cook another five minutes, or until your squash is easily pierced with a knife.
  4. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, place the roasted squash rings on a serving platter and then spoon the bacony shallots and all of the pan juices over them. Taste the yogurt and add more of anything that you like. It should have a subtle tartness from the pomegranate molasses but be well-balanced from the tahini, cinnamon and salt. Spoon the yogurt into the middle of the platter, atop the rings, and then sprinkle the arils, chopped scallions and crumbled bacon over everything. Serve warm or at room temperature.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

7 Reviews

lighthouse6 October 8, 2016
Just making sure this is correct... 1/4 tsp of tahini... it is totally insignificant when added to 5 + oz. of thick yogurt. Also, the measurement for the molasses is a bit strange. Do you mean 2 tsp PLUS 1 tbs? Will make again but needs adjustments... I love pomegranate molasses too!
em-i-lis October 10, 2016
Hi there,
I'm so sorry for both my delay in responding (family in town and I forgot what a 2 year old in the house is like!!) and for the measurement mishaps. Yes, that should be 2 tsp PLUS 1 tbs, and I will go correct that now!! As for the tahini, that does seem insane. I haven't made this yet this year so will remake tomorrow and let you know. THANK YOU!!
em-i-lis October 10, 2016
Ok, well I can't correct it now because it's in testing but I will correct ASAP. :)
fiveandspice November 29, 2012
This sounds so incredible. I loooooove delicata squash with a yogurt sauce.
em-i-lis November 29, 2012
Thank you so much, fiveandspice!!!
JanetFL November 27, 2012
Emily, I hope this won't be a repeat post - thought my first one went through but apparently not. This sounds delicious! I don't peel Delicata squash - just scrub them thoroughly - and find the skin soft enough after cooking. Do you have some reason that I should know about for peeling them?
em-i-lis November 27, 2012
Hi Janet, Thank you for your note! I've always peeled my squash so guess I just do Delicatas out of habit. No good reason! And frankly, I like your way of handling them so may go that route the next time. Lots of time saved!!! :)