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Creamy Kabocha Squash Mash (Paleo)

Creamy Kabocha Squash Mash makes for a healthful paleo and vegan side dish during the fall and winter months. Easy to prepare and only a few ingredients required!

Mashed Kabocha Squash with honey - a simple and healthful side dish recipe for the holidays #healthy #paleo

Have you tried kabocha squash?

I love it so hard, I’m practically at a loss for words. To me, kabocha squash tastes like a stick of butter when it has been roasted and mashed, and we all know how we all feel about butter.

Cream.

Just like I was telling you when I posted my Kabocha Squash Spice Cake, kabocha squash is my main squeeze when it comes to all the winter squashes. It’s just so creamy, sweet, and – do I dare say it? – decadent.

Roasting the squash and combining it with a little coconut milk, honey, and cinnamon is my side dish slow jam…I basically want to dive into an Olympic-sized swimming pool of it, no lie

PLUS, kabocha squash is full of Vitamins A, C, and B6 + natural sugars. So there is that. It’s nature’s healthy dessert.

I mean, just look at that pile!

Creamy Kabocha Squash Mash - dairy-free, paleo, and vegan - a healthy side dish for the holidays! TheRoastedRoot.net

This silly easy side dish only requires four ingredients  (five if you count salt), and takes no time at all to prepare.

How to Make Mashed Kabocha Squash:

All you do is cut the kabocha squash in half, drizzle the flesh with olive oil, and roast it in the oven for 45 to 55 minutes or until the squash is very tender when poked with a fork.

Once roasted, just mash everything up in a bowl and serve.

I love adding a splash of whisky or brandy to the mash because it gives the mash a richer flavor. You can’t taste the actual alcohol! To keep the recipe paleo, leave the alcohol out.

Because I’m a big fan of large portions, to me this recipe serves 2. But, like very comfortably. So for normal people, it serves more like 3 to 4. If you’re planning your holiday menu, I’d say buy one kabocha squash for every two people and adjust the other ingredients as necessary.

Worst case scenario, you’ll have leftover kabocha mash, which is a blessing if you ask me.

Mashed Kabocha Squash with honey - a simple and healthful side dish recipe for the holidays #healthy #paleo

Whether you’re making this for Friendsgiving, work potluck or legit Thanksgiving, you’ll be the talk of the table, smalls. Slash make it for yourself and covet it to your onesie…that’s totally acceptable, too.

Since this side dish is all-things gluten-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free, and paleo-friendly, it’s awesome for any occasion where you need to be wary of dietary restrictions. Sub pure maple syrup for the honey, and now it’s vegan, too.

Aside from this mash being an excellent, healthy side dish for the holidays, you can turn this into all sorts of adventures. Add it to your morning oatmeal, pancake batter, smoothies, cake, brownies, cookies, you name it, it can be kabocha-ed.

Creamy Kabocha Squash Mash - dairy-free, paleo, and vegan - a healthy side dish for the holidays! TheRoastedRoot.net

Kabocha mash up!

Also try my Creamy Mashed Rutabaga with Caramelized Onions!

Mashed Kabocha Squash with honey - a simple and healthful side dish recipe for the holidays #healthy #paleo

Creamy Kabocha Squash Mash (Paleo)

Creamy Kabocha Squash Mash is a nutritious, creamy side dish perfect for the holiday and winter seasons.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 large kabocha squash, halved and roasted
  • ¼ cup full-fat canned coconut milk + more for serving
  • 2 tablespoons to 3 honey, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons whisky, optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 ground cinnamon, to taste
  • Pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Cut the kabocha squash in half and scoop out the innards and seeds. Drizzle with olive oil, sea salt and cinnamon and place cut-side down on a baking sheet.
  • Bake on the center rack of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until flesh is very soft when poked with a fork.
  • Once squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Add the coconut milk, honey, cinnamon, and sea salt. Mash and stir until everything is well combined. Taste kabocha squash for flavor. Add more cinnamon, sea salt, and/or honey to taste.
  • Serve with additional coconut milk, pumpkin seeds, and pecans

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving - Calories: 115kcal - Carbohydrates: 23g - Protein: 2g - Fat: 2g - Fiber: 2g - Sugar: 15g
Course: Side Dishes & Snacks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: healthy side dishes, kabocha squash mash, mashed kabocha squash recipe, paleo recipes, vegetable side dishes, winter squash
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 115kcal
Author: Julia
Recipe Rating




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Laurie

Friday 27th of November 2020

Made this yesterday and the texture was dry and chalky. I had to add so much liquid to it just to mash it. Trying to figure out what to do to remedy it or just toss it..

Julia

Friday 27th of November 2020

Hi Laurie,

What's interesting about winter squash is it can vary greatly in moisture content. It could be your squash was under-ripe or simply didn't contain much moisture. In this situation, I would have added more coconut milk until it mashed easily. xoxo

Molly

Saturday 5th of September 2020

One of my new favorite recipes! SOOOO good!

Julia

Saturday 5th of September 2020

I'm so thrilled you like it, Molly! I'm obsessed with kabocha squash too! Thanks for the sweet note! xoxo

Kim C

Thursday 19th of November 2015

Killing meeeee. Kabocha is my single favorite food. Coconut milk comes close. Doesn't get any better than this.

Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health

Monday 16th of November 2015

I don't know why I haven't jumped on the kabocha train yet...the way you describe it you make me want to run to the store and grab one right now so I can make this mash. It's so simple but it sounds amazing and I love the idea to add it to your morning oatmeal. NOM!

Izzy

Monday 16th of November 2015

I've never actually tried kabocha squash before but the way you are explaining it makes me want to go out and buy all of them and eat it every single day!! I always tell people I love walnuts so much because they taste like butter! This mash sounds pretty awesome!

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