In case you haven’t noticed, thick-skinned winter squash are in season now and come in several different varieties. Both pumpkin and butternut squash are versatile types that can be sautéed, mashed or used in soups and curries.

Delicata has a striped skin and tastes like sweet potato; kabocha, or Japanese squash, turns into bright mash or soup and the smaller acorn variety roasts well whole. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the squash the more intense its flavour will be.

The soft texture and slight sweetness of pumpkin and squash flesh – not to mention the amber glow - partners well with sage, cream, bacon, chilli and cheese.

Valentine Warner roasts pumpkin tranches with garlic and sage served with shaved pecorino, and Anjum Anand makes a warming autumnal Bengali squash with spicy chickpeas dish.

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Roasted wedges of squash need a balanced middle of the road wine, neither too rich nor too dry. A chenin blanc should do the trick.

Try a Ken Forrester The FMC 2006, from Stellenbosch, South Africa (about £17.95, Waitrose); its smoky, off-dry character finds a match in the slight sweetness of roasted pumpkin. Or for something a bit cheaper, Tesco's award-winning Finest Fiano 2008 (£5.99) is a Sicilian white with subtle citrus notes and a full, rounded texture on the palate.

Butternut squash

Jamie's warm squash salad

Five-spice butternut soup

Butternut gratin

Roast squash with lentils and goat's cheese

Gordon's spiced carrot and butternut squash soup

Jamie's squash stuffed with pancetta and chestnuts

Butternut squash and barley risotto

Butternut squash with mushrooms and bacon

Butternut squash and vanilla soup

Butternut squash and goat’s cheese stew

Roast butternut pumpkin

Braised brisket with butternut and cinnamon

Roasted duck breast with butternut squash, braised chestnuts and plum sauce

Squash and feta super-salad and gingery soup

Butternut squash with Lebanese lamb and garlic yoghurt

Roast squash with coriander pesto

Squash, runner bean and coconut curry

Lamb and butternut squash tagine

Squash and shrimp soup

Pumpkins

Moro's pumpkin pisto

Little pumpkin and pecan tarts

Pumpkin soup with chermoula

Roast butternut pumpkin

Honey-glazed pumpkin wedges

Roasted pumpkin crostini with pancetta

Roast pumpkin, goat cheese and walnuts

Pumpkin risotto

Pasta with pumpkin and chestnuts

Spiced Pumpkin Cake

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