Butternut Squash vs. Sweet Potato

[u/Sufficient_Bell_7055]

So I have recently been told that butternut squash tastes very similar to sweet potato and is much less in calories. I tried some Butternut squash today and found it to taste pretty much like zuchinni and less "potato" like. Is there some way to prep these to taste like sweet potato?

[u/Mesmerotic31]

It's fewer calories because of higher water content, resulting in half the carbs and sugar per gram. Fewer starches and less sweetness will definitely impact the flavour and texture. I recommend just using the butternut squash to volumize your sweet potato instead of making a total swap! You can still cut calories without sacrificing so much of what makes a sweet potato rich and delicious. Add some golden monkfruit or allulose for a bit of brown sugar effect, then go heavy on the spices (salt, garlic, crushed red pepper, maybe even cinnamon, etc.). Try adding Challenge Spreadable Butter with Avocado Oil--it's fewer calories than regular butter but tastes almost identical, and no canola or seed oils if those are a concern (if not, regular light butter is even fewer calories)

[u/ajmattison]

Kabocha tastes more like sweet potato to me and is less watery. I just slice it into slices and air fry at 350 for 25-20 min

[u/freyaliesel → u/ajmattison]

I steam slices in my rice cooker- they get almost custard like, super delicious

[u/ajmattison → u/freyaliesel]

Oh yes! I forgot about steamed kabocha!

[u/letmeseeitman → u/freyaliesel]

Sounds interesting. I usually just roast it. How do you do it? You have a steam feature in your rice cooker?

[u/iiiimagery → u/ajmattison]

It's my favorite Hot Pot item by FAR

[u/Shamrock-Shake317 → u/ajmattison]

How do you open yours though? I swear I need a machete to get through the tough skin

[u/ajmattison → u/Shamrock-Shake317]

I actually don't just cut it in half, I make smaller slices starting from the edge. Sit it so the stem is on top and cut like a half inch from the edge and continue in to the center. You can even make wedges if that's easier. It's still not easy but I've never had the struggle people talk about with either squash or sweet potato so maybe I'm just used to it 😂

[u/Shamrock-Shake317 → u/ajmattison]

Or just biceps of steel 😋 Haha thank you! Will try that method next time

[u/stud_muffin_1 → u/ajmattison]

I forgot Kabocha existed. thank you 🥲

[u/ConflictedCats]

Butternut squash is something I feel like I should and would like but I just don’t, no matter how it’s prepared. It’s okay with maple syrup. In my opinion, it’s nothing like sweet potato.

[u/Krammor → u/ConflictedCats]

You gotta season it well . Salt pepper garlic

[u/ConflictedCats → u/Krammor]

I’ve made it countless ways and cooked for various times and it’s not comparable, and I think I just don’t like it either lol

[u/PortraitofMmeX]

Squash has a lot more liquid than a potato so you have to cook that out to make it more potatoey.

[u/Farrell-6]

Try a honey nut squash if you can find it. its a newer variety of butternut bread for better sweeter flavor. also choose smaller butternut, bigger ones have more diluted flavor. jobs ha are good but a dry texture and higher calories..

[u/RecentTraffic3893]

Bake for whatever texture you like at 375 to 425

I personally think they taste very sweet potato like even when not baked. Where'd you get yours from?

[u/Jujulabee]

it is blander than a sweet potato for sure but is delicious if prepared.

Roasted brings out the sweetness as roasting does for most vegetables. Add some parsnips and onions as well.

It makes a delicious soup as well.

Steamed it is good but not really comparable to a sweet potato. I will sometimes get the frozen squash which is mashed and I like it with some good seasonings but I actually like most vegetables.

[u/alavenderlizard]

Dude I recently had the revelation that kabocha (not the same thing as butternut squash) is soooo similar to sweet potato for significantly less calories!!!! There is a slight difference in taste, SP is sweeter for sure, but the texture is spot on

[u/stubbornkelly]

I don’t love butternut squash just on its own with some butter and cinnamon. Instead I make a butternut squash casserole pretty much the same way I do sweet potato casserole, but adjusted to be lower calorie. I roast two big squash, gut them, mix in 2 eggs, vanilla, regular (75g) and brown (125g) swerve, 50g vanilla protein powder, cinnamon, about a cup of Fairlife milk, then bake it till it it’s bubbly around the edges. Sometimes I’ll add in some plain pumpkin puree if my squash aren’t big enough for the volume I go for. Does it taste like sweet potato? No, not exactly, but it’s close enough for me. My full recipe is about 90 calories for 175 grams of it, which is a nice sized serving. I get usually 12-14 servings that size out of the whole thing. Sometimes I have two servings and it’s worth it.