I think we may have found our new favorite neighborhood sushi joint. Which when you move to a new city, is a really big deal. You’ve got to have that one place in the neighborhood that you can really count on. We’ve tried a few here and there (still lots to explore) but I was introduced to one by a friend a few weeks ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. The fish is SO good, the prices are reasonable, and it is a tiny, cozy place.
Ok fine, I went twice in one day. (Yes, ridiculous).
The restaurant is called Yatai, on the Sunset strip and it is a Japanese Sushi & Tapas restaurant. So in addition to the typical rolls, they’ve got eggplant with miso sauce, goyza, seaweed salad and an amazing tempura pumpkin with curry salt. I’m convinced it is actually kabocha squash (the rind is green, you can eat it, and kabocha squash has its roots in Japan) but regardless, it is delicious. I had to make a version at home, naturally, so instead of frying it and serving it with the salt, I roasted it with a sweet curry salt. It was one of those recipes that I just knew would turn out well.
I was right. I came close to eating the whole squash in one sitting, but decided that wasn’t the best idea. I stopped myself after a third of it.
The salty/sweet/curry flavor is amazing on the sweet squash. It is delicious right out of the oven, or as I learned, at room temperature all afternoon. I warned you!
Curry Salt Crusted Kabocha Squash
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients (4-6 servings)
- 1 medium kabocha squash
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp curry powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Cut squash into 1 inch wide strips, removing seeds.
Stir together the sugar, curry powder and salt and layout on plate.
Toss squash pieces with olive oil until evenly coated.
Press the squash pieces into the curry salt mixture, coating both sides.
Roast squash for 40 minutes, flipping over after 20 minutes.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Shana
Hey Emily,
I did this with sweet potatoes the other day. They were great. I am going to have to try this with sqash. Thanks for all the great ideas. Happy to see Cali is going well for you.
emily (a nutritionist eats)
Hi Shana, Thank you! I have some sweet potatoes, I’ll have to try!
misschels
O my goodness Emily! I absolutely love KABOCHA SQUASH. I roast it with sea salt, pepper, and olive oil or sometimes with cinnamon for even more sweetness! I nearly died when I went to whole foods and they were out of stock…must be getting popular. The second they get it back in I must try this recipe!
MANGIA!!!
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
I’ve never had kabocha squash, but it looks fantastic! I love the sweet & salty combo…on anything really 🙂
Luv What You Do
Congrats on the new sushi find!!! We just tried out a new local place too…I was thrilled that it was so good.
I love all of these squashes. Kabocha is sometimes hard to find. I will go looking at WF today.
erin
As always, this sounds delish 🙂 I think I even have a kabocha squash at home!
Yay for a new sushi spot! Hope all’s well in Cali 🙂
Megan (Braise The Roof)
This sounds amazing! Finding new restaurants is so key- but I am awful about going back again and again and not trying other places! (or getting something new off the menu, for that matter)
Michelle {The Lively Kitchen}
I read two posts on roasted kabocha squash today. I think the universe is telling me to get myself some kabocha sqaush, stat. Because, you know, the universe doesn’t have enough to worry about…..
Looks fantastic!
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)
This curry salt crust sounds soooooooo good!!!! You make squash fun!
Dana
This sounds so super delicious! I love the curry salt idea… I have to try this out!!
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