Easy Kabocha Squash and Collard Greens with Whole Wheat Rotini

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Here is a quick entree you can make with some fresh fall produce: kabocha squash and collard greens: great finds from your local farmers’ market. This is a quick vegetable sauté with whole wheat pasta. The kabocha squash was an exciting find from my CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box, but I have also made it with butternut squash.

More About CSAs

If you are trying to eat more nutritious foods, it is a lot of fun to try a CSA or home-delivered produce boxes. With a CSA, you are supporting local farmers: who you may even meet at a market or work with (some programs have a work option or requirement). The food has traveled the shortest distance: saving “food miles” and some vitamins which are lost with longer exposure to air.

Then there are both local and national home-delivered produce boxes. These have many options: organic or conventional, whether or not you can customize your boxes, and if you can add on extra items. Some help to rescue foods that are not quite right to sell to supermarkets: they may be the wrong size but are otherwise perfectly good.

I like the surprise of unknown fresh fruits and veggies. And as you can see, the kabocha squash was a hit. The turnips and beets, not so much.

What is Kabocha Squash?

First, let’s talk about kabocha squash. Kabocha is a winter squash with a beautiful variegated deep green color. It is also called Japanese pumpkin.

Ingredients Needed

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Garlic
• Onions
• Collard greens – or kale, broccoli rabe, spinach, or Swiss chard
• Kabocha squash – or you can use butternut, acorn, or other winter squash
• Whole wheat pasta
• Seasonings: dried basil, black pepper, and salt
• Almonds – or walnuts or pecans

How to Make Kabocha Squash and Collard Greens with Whole Wheat Rotini

For the kabocha squash, cut it in half and scoop out the seeds with a tablespoon. Place it on a baking sheet and roast it in the oven at 400°F for about an hour or until it’s tender. Acorn, butternut, or delicata squash could be used in place of kabocha squash.

Next, wash the collard greens: these can be gritty. To clean them well, fill up a large bowl or pot with cool water. Dip them in, swirl them around, and pull them out. The dirt should remain in the bottom of the bowl or pot.

Broccoli rabe would be terrific also and is made in the same way with a quick pre-boil. You could substitute baby kale or spinach for the collard greens, and there is no need to pre-cook them.

Boiling vegetables is not ideal, because some of the water-soluble vitamins will be lost in the water. Try to use the cooking water in another dish such as soup or a casserole.

I chose whole wheat pasta for its fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, and heartier texture. Rotini is my favorite because it holds onto the sauce well. You can use any type of pasta you like or gluten-free pasta.

Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats. Substitute avocado, peanut, or canola oil if you wish.

Not only is this delicious, but it is also beneficial for nutrients like fiber, beta-carotene (the precursor to vitamin A), and calcium. There is a little bitterness in the collards, which contrasts well with the sweetness of the squash. Also, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper brightens up the flavor.

How to Store this Dish

This meal freezes well if you make extra. It is also great for meal prep: make a few servings for lunches or dinners ahead of a busy week.

More Recipes you May Enjoy

There are lots of types of winter squash. They are a great source of beta-carotene and other nutrients.

Here are some cooking tips for more varieties:

• Spaghetti Squash: How to Cook this Fall Harvest Star!
• How to Cook Acorn Squash
• Stuffed Peppers with Butternut Squash and Quinoa

Have you tried this Easy Kabocha Squash and Collard Greens with Whole Wheat Rotini? Please let me know in the comments how you liked it:

Original post: 10/16/2018. Updated 1/30/23