A healthy and easy side dish recipe, you will love this paprika-spiced roasted acorn squash drizzled with garlic tahini sauce. Naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
You guys, I have a confession. It makes me so sad to say this but my husband sort of kind of really hates tahini. Who hates tahini? I mean, he will eat it in hummus or baba but for the most part, he really doesn’t like it.
I mean, this is a man who lives for all nuts, seeds, nut butter, and even seed butter but when it comes to tahini, he turns his head.
Gah. I freaking love tahini and every single thing about it. I’ve spent years trying to sway him and while I do think that he will eventually come around (tastes change right?), in the meantime, I’ve taken to making dishes for myself that I can slather with tahini in some form of another.
Now that we are in squash season, I’ve been roasting squash left and right because healthy acorn squash recipes are a love language and we all need to speak it.
This roasted squash recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
The creamy tahini sauce pairs perfectly with the paprika-spiced roasted acorn squash and makes for a perfect side dish. Heck, this could be a fantastic main dish paired with some beans and a ton more veggies.
Even if I can’t get my hubs to love it, if you like tahini, I know you will!
Ingredients:
Tahini Sauce:
- Tahini
- Olive Oil
- Garlic
- Water
- Salt & Pepper
- Lemon Juice
Squash:
- Acorn Squash
- Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper
- Paprika
Recipe Tips:
- Smoked paprika can easily be substituted for regular paprika.
- The tahini sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance. I recommend allowing to come to room temp before serving (or soaking the jar in a warm water bath for 15 min) so it is easy to drizzle over the roasted acorn squash
- You can substitute a variety of squash for the acorn squash. This is also very delicious with delicata squash, butternut squash, and kabocha squash.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
A healthy and easy side dish recipe, you will love this paprika-spiced roasted acorn squash drizzled with garlic tahini sauce. Naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove pressed
- 2 Tablespoons warm water
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- squeeze fresh lemon juice
- 1 large acorn squash cut into 8 wedges
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
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Preheat oven to 425F.
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Combine all ingredients for drizzle in a small bowl or mason jar and whisk until smooth. If you want the drizzle extra smooth, you can use the blender, food processor or immersion blender.
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Slice unpeeled acorn squash into 8 wedges, remove seeds and rub with olive oil.
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Add a pinch of salt and pepper and 1 teaspoon of paprika. You can also use smoked paprika for more of a kick! Toss until the wedges are well coated with the spices and place on a baking sheet.
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Bake for 20 to 25 minutes before turning each wedge and baking an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until tender on the inside and caramelized and beginning to brown on the outside.
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Remove and serve hot drizzled with tahini sauce and Enjoy!
- Smoked paprika can easily be substituted for regular paprika.
- The tahini sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance. I recommend allowing to come to room temp before serving (or soaking the jar in a warm water bath for 15 min) so it is easy to drizzle over the roasted acorn squash
- You can substitute a variety of squash for the acorn squash. This is also very delicious with delicata squash, butternut squash, and kabocha squash.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
More Healthy Squash Recipes:
Spaghetti Squash Low Carb Pizza
Taco Meat Stuffed Delicata Squash with {Dairy Free} Avocado Crema
Cinnamon and Palm Sugar Roasted Delicata Squash
UPDATE NOTES: This healthy acorn squash recipe was originally published in October 2016 and was most recently updated in September 2020.
Shari Ciancio says
This is absolutely fabulous! I used Kabocha squash and smoked paprika. By the way, I cannot eat garlic cloves, so I subbed garlic infused olive oil for the regular olive oil and the tahini sauce was still perfect. We served it with homemade beef kefta and some of the tahini sauce went on that too! I too have a weakness for tahini, so I am glad to have another way to use tahini sauce. Thank you for the recipe!
Alyssa Brantley says
That sounds like a FANTASTIC meal Shari!!! So glad you liked it!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
What a delicious idea. I also love the way the wedges look on a plate. Stunning!
Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says
I love tahini AND paprika… AND squash… ANDDDDD garlic!! So, this is like the perfect dish for me. YUM!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
Oh my. I haven’t had tahini in forever! This will be perfect for this weekend!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That sounds so delicious, I love the flavor combo!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
I’ve never actually had tahini but now I’m interested!
EverydayMaven says
Never!? Not in hummus? You have to get some!!
The Food Hunter says
I’m loving the garlic tahini dressing on this
Jessica @Savory Experiments says
I’m always looking for new acorn squash recipes, I will be trying this one! Thanks!
Stephanie says
I could make a meal out of this! Yum!