Roasted Squash With a Pomegranate Reduction, Pistachios, & Pomegranate Arils

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I was totally inspired by the POM Wonderful 2010 Harvest Tour last week.  You’ll be hearing a lot more about it, but I have so many pictures and video that I took, that it is taking a bit longer than I expected to pull everything together into cohesive posts!

My head has been filled with ideas on how I want to use pomegranate juice and arils.  Today I made one of those ideas a reality—roasted squash with a pomegranate reduction and a sprinkling of pistachios and pomegranate arils.

A few weeks ago Shauna (Gluten Free Girl and the Chef) tweeted about Delicata squash.  I tweeted that I had never tried it and she gave me a fall homework assignment of seeking it out and trying it.

She told me that her favorite way to eat it was simply to roast it and sprinkle it with salt.  I’ve been on the lookout ever since and finally spotted it a couple of days ago at our Farmer’s Market.  I cut the squash in half, scooped out the seeds, and set it in a baking pan with a bit of water.  Then I covered the pan with tinfoil and put it in the oven to roast until it was fork tender.  While it was cooking I used some POM Wonderful pomegranate juice to make a pomegranate reduction.

I cut the squash into slices, drizzled them with the reduction and then sprinkled them with dry roasted and salted pistachio nuts and fresh pomegranate arils.  The creamy squash was delicious with the sweet and tangy pomegranate reduction.  The pistachios added a wonderful crunch and the saltiness balanced well with the sweetness of the squash.  The pomegranate arils gave a refreshing burst of juice every time I bit into one.  This dish really celebrates the harvest season. Delicata squash, pomegranates, and pistachios are all in season right now.  Not only does it celebrate the harvest, but it is gluten-free, inspired by my friend Shauna.  The dish is the perfect side to a roasted chicken.  You could also roast some sliced apples with the squash, or add some crumbled goat cheese for tangy creaminess.

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